Crystal Cove, Orange Co., 3-09. © John  C. Avise.

Royal Tern

Sterna maxima

Charadriiformes; Laridae

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Elegants and Royals can be difficult to distinguish.  Elegants have a slightly longer and thinner bill, are generally more gracile in body shape, and have a slightly longer crest.  Both are easy to distinguish from the Caspian tern, which has a heavy ruby-red (rather than orange) bill and a somewhat less deeply forked tail.

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