{"id":24358,"date":"2012-10-29T20:40:39","date_gmt":"2012-10-29T19:40:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/galleries\/seabirds\/royal-tern-thalasseus-maximus-2\/"},"modified":"2026-09-11T09:12:57","modified_gmt":"2026-09-11T08:12:57","slug":"royal-tern-thalasseus-maximus-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/galleries\/seabirds\/royal-tern-thalasseus-maximus-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Royal Tern Sterna maxima"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus) is a seabird in the tern family Sternidae. It breeds on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the southern USA and Mexico into the Caribbean. American birds winter south to Peru and Argentina, and African breeders move both north and south from the breeding colonies. African birds may reach as far north as Spain. This species has also wandered to western Europe as a rare vagrant, these records probably being from the American colonies.<\/p>\n<p>Factsheet: Royal Tern\u00a0<i>Sterna\u00a0maxima<\/i>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<div class=\"ngg-galleryoverview\" id=\"ngg-gallery-129-24358\">\n\n\n\n    \t<!-- Thumbnails -->\n\t\t\n\t\t<div id=\"ngg-image-785\" class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box nggvote-33\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail\" >\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/royal-tern-thalasseus-maximus\/royal-tern-thalasseus-maximus-9.jpg\" title=\"Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus) at Refugio De Aves De Boqueron, Puerto Rico\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus) at Refugio De Aves De Boqueron, Puerto Rico\" alt=\"Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus) \" src=\"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/royal-tern-thalasseus-maximus\/thumbs\/thumbs_royal-tern-thalasseus-maximus-9.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"168\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<span>Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus) <\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n \t\n\t\t<div id=\"ngg-image-784\" class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box nggvote-33\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail\" >\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/royal-tern-thalasseus-maximus\/royal-tern-thalasseus-maximus-8.jpg\" title=\"Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus) at Refugio De Aves De Boqueron, Puerto Rico\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus) at Refugio De Aves De Boqueron, Puerto Rico\" alt=\"Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus) \" src=\"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/royal-tern-thalasseus-maximus\/thumbs\/thumbs_royal-tern-thalasseus-maximus-8.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"168\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<span>Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus) <\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n \t\n\t\t<div id=\"ngg-image-783\" class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box nggvote-33\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail\" >\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/royal-tern-thalasseus-maximus\/royal-tern-thalasseus-maximus-7.jpg\" title=\"Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus) at Refugio De Aves De Boqueron, Puerto Rico\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus) at Refugio De Aves De Boqueron, Puerto Rico\" alt=\"Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus) \" src=\"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/royal-tern-thalasseus-maximus\/thumbs\/thumbs_royal-tern-thalasseus-maximus-7.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"168\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<span>Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus) <\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<br style=\"clear: both\" \/>\n\t\n \t\n\t\t<div id=\"ngg-image-782\" class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box nggvote-33\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail\" >\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/royal-tern-thalasseus-maximus\/royal-tern-thalasseus-maximus-6.jpg\" title=\"Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus) at El Combate,  Puerto Rico\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus) at El Combate,  Puerto Rico\" alt=\"Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus) \" src=\"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/royal-tern-thalasseus-maximus\/thumbs\/thumbs_royal-tern-thalasseus-maximus-6.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"168\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<span>Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus) <\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n \t\n\t\t<div id=\"ngg-image-781\" class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box nggvote-33\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail\" >\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/royal-tern-thalasseus-maximus\/royal-tern-thalasseus-maximus-5.jpg\" title=\"Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus) at El Combate,  Puerto Rico\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus) at El Combate,  Puerto Rico\" alt=\"Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus) \" src=\"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/royal-tern-thalasseus-maximus\/thumbs\/thumbs_royal-tern-thalasseus-maximus-5.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"168\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<span>Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus) <\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n \t\n\t\t<div id=\"ngg-image-780\" class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box nggvote-33\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail\" >\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/royal-tern-thalasseus-maximus\/royal-tern-thalasseus-maximus-4.jpg\" title=\"Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus) at El Combate,  Puerto Rico\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus) at El Combate,  Puerto Rico\" alt=\"Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus) \" src=\"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/royal-tern-thalasseus-maximus\/thumbs\/thumbs_royal-tern-thalasseus-maximus-4.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"168\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<span>Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus) <\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<br style=\"clear: both\" \/>\n\t\n \t\n\t\t<div id=\"ngg-image-779\" class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box nggvote-33\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail\" >\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/royal-tern-thalasseus-maximus\/royal-tern-thalasseus-maximus-3.jpg\" title=\"Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus) at Puerto Yabucoa, Puerto Rico\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus) at Puerto Yabucoa, Puerto Rico\" alt=\"Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus) \" src=\"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/royal-tern-thalasseus-maximus\/thumbs\/thumbs_royal-tern-thalasseus-maximus-3.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"168\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<span>Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus) <\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n \t\n\t\t<div id=\"ngg-image-778\" class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box nggvote-33\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail\" >\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/royal-tern-thalasseus-maximus\/royal-tern-thalasseus-maximus-2.jpg\" title=\"Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus) at Puerto Yabucoa, Puerto Rico\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus) at Puerto Yabucoa, Puerto Rico\" alt=\"Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus) \" src=\"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/royal-tern-thalasseus-maximus\/thumbs\/thumbs_royal-tern-thalasseus-maximus-2.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"168\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<span>Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus) <\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n \t\n\t\t<div id=\"ngg-image-777\" class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box nggvote-33\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail\" >\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/royal-tern-thalasseus-maximus\/royal-tern-thalasseus-maximus-11.jpg\" title=\"Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus) at Refugio De Aves De Boqueron, Puerto Rico\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus) at Refugio De Aves De Boqueron, Puerto Rico\" alt=\"Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus) \" src=\"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/royal-tern-thalasseus-maximus\/thumbs\/thumbs_royal-tern-thalasseus-maximus-11.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"168\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<span>Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus) <\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<br style=\"clear: both\" \/>\n\t\n \t\n\t\t<div id=\"ngg-image-776\" class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box nggvote-33\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail\" >\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/royal-tern-thalasseus-maximus\/royal-tern-thalasseus-maximus-10.jpg\" title=\"Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus) at Refugio De Aves De Boqueron, Puerto Rico\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus) at Refugio De Aves De Boqueron, Puerto Rico\" alt=\"Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus) \" src=\"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/royal-tern-thalasseus-maximus\/thumbs\/thumbs_royal-tern-thalasseus-maximus-10.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"168\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<span>Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus) <\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n \t\n\t\t<div id=\"ngg-image-775\" class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box nggvote-33\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail\" >\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/royal-tern-thalasseus-maximus\/royal-tern-thalasseus-maximus-1.jpg\" title=\"Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus) at Puerto Yabucoa, Puerto Rico\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus) at Puerto Yabucoa, Puerto Rico\" alt=\"Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus) \" src=\"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/royal-tern-thalasseus-maximus\/thumbs\/thumbs_royal-tern-thalasseus-maximus-1.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"168\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<span>Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus) <\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n \t\n\t<!-- Pagination -->\n \t<div class=\"ngg-clear\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus) is a seabird in the tern family Sternidae. It breeds on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the southern USA and Mexico into the Caribbean. American birds winter south to Peru and Argentina, and African breeders move both north and south from the breeding colonies. African birds may reach as [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1178,"featured_media":829157,"parent":17618,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"tags":[1611,451,1612],"class_list":["post-24358","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-royal-tern","tag-seabirds","tag-thalasseus-maximus"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/24358","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1178"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24358"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/24358\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/17618"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/829157"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24358"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24358"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}