Terns (Sternidae)
Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus) - HBW 3, p. 647
French: Sterne royale
German: Königsseeschwalbe
Spanish: Charrán Real
Taxonomy: Sterna maxima Boddaert, 1783, Cayenne.
Genus often merged with Sterna. Sometimes considered to form superspecies with T. bergii. Racial variation questionable. Two subspecies normally recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution:
- albididorsalis (Hartert, 1921) - Mauritania to Guinea, occasionally further S; winters S to Namibia.
- maximus (Boddaert, 1783) - S California to Sinaloa, and Maryland (rarely New Jersey) to Texas, and through West Indies to the Guianas and possibly Brazil, with disjunct breeding populations on Yucatán, and in S Brazil, Uruguay and N Patagonia; winters S to Peru and to Uruguay and Argentina.
- Least Concern Enlarge map
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A winter-plumaged adult standing on a beach, stretching its wings and flying away Locality Ventura County, California, USA (United States) (ssp maxima)
Don DesJardin 31 December 2007 5 years ago 32 sec 4.7 -
An individual stretching wings and then walking; finally standing still Locality Fort Lauderdale, Broward County, Florida, USA (United States) (ssp maximus)
Joe Angseesing 17 January 2009 3 years ago 36 sec 4.5 -
A perched bird preening its primaries. Locality Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo State, Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico (Southern) (ssp maxima)
Pieter de Groot Boersma 16 August 2005 5 years ago 26 sec 4.4 -
A pair copulating Locality Tanji, Western Division, The Gambia (ssp albididorsalis)
Alex García · Videoaves 18 April 2011 1 year ago 29 sec 4.1 -
A bird in winter plumage preening while perched on a jetty. Locality Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo State, Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico (Southern) (ssp maxima)
Pieter de Groot Boersma 16 August 2005 5 years ago 24 sec 4.1 -
bird in the shore Locality La Libertad Department, Peru (ssp maximus )
Daniêl Jimenez 16 November 2012 9 weeks ago 30 sec 4
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Two birds on the seashore
Locality Tulum, Quintana Roo State, Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico (Southern)
Piotr Jonczyk 6 December 2007 3 years ago 4.5 -
take of
Locality Paracas National Reserve, Ica Department, Peru
Lior Kislev 12 December 2009 1 year ago 4.2 -
A bird sitting on a pole.
Locality Florida, USA (United States)
sophiebuck 11 December 2012 13 weeks ago 4.2 -
A bird landing.
Locality Capaya River mouth, Barlovento, Miranda State, Venezuela (ssp maximus)
Eduardo López 2 December 2008 4 years ago 4.2 -
Trinta reis real
Locality São Vicente, São Paulo State, Brazil
Lindolfo Souto 22 May 2011 21 weeks ago 4.2 -
A portrait of a bird sitting.
Locality Florida, USA (United States)
sophiebuck 11 December 2012 13 weeks ago 4
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Calls made in flight Locality Callao Province, Peru
(ssp maximus)
Joe Angseesing 30 January 2009 3 years ago 2
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