Graeme Teague Photography

Royal Terns & Waves

Caption: Royal Terns & Waves
Scientific name: Thalasseus maximus
Location: Sanibel Island, Fl.
Copyright: © Graeme Teague 832-526-1123 gtphoto@shaw.ca
AGPix ID: AGPix_GrTePh23_2313
Digital Original
Comments: Royal terns at sunrise - Sanibel island, Florida, USA..The one in the middle is an immature and the other two look like adults in nonbreeding (basic) plumage. Endemic to the Americas, Royal Terns range along the coasts of North and South America and the Caribbean. A sleek seabird of warm saltwater coasts, the Royal Tern lives up to its regal name with a tangerine-colored bill and ragged, ink-black crest against crisp white plumage. Royal Terns fly gracefully and slowly along coastlines, diving for small fish, which they capture with a swift strike of their daggerlike bills. They are social birds, gathering between fishing expeditions on undisturbed beaches and nesting in dense, boisterous colonies. In late summer and fall, Royal Terns lose most of their black crest and sport a white forehead. GTPhoto is a wonderful knowledge/photo agency with all award winning photographers, filmmakers, authors, scientists and guides covering our world - Florida specialists.