Elegant Tern
Sandwich Tern
Also known as: Sterna maxima
51 cm (20") Fairly common. Strictly a salt water tern. Deep forked tail. Similar to Caspian Tern but Royal has a complete black cap only early in summer otherwise a white forehead. Also Caspian's bill is a definite red whereas Royal's is more orange.
Song: "kee-rer" and "kaak".
Videos
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Credit: Mark Vance
Distribution Maps
Royal Tern distribution map
Royal Tern winter distribution map