"Royal Tern" by AuntDot

Royal Tern

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Artist's Description

^{Canon PowerShot SX260 HS; 1/400, f/6.8, ISO 100, focal length 90mm; AUTO setting}

This Royal Tern obligingly posed like its cousin the Forster’s Tern, so I could get a good comparison of the two birds. (See my photo of the Forster’s Tern here) This was taken in Cedar Key, Florida, USA.

FEATURED in The Wonder of Wings, March 28, 2018
SOLD 2 Greeting Cards, March 8, 2018 Thanks to the buyer!
FEATURED in The Birds, Nov. 19, 2012

From Birdlife.org:
Description:
The Royal Tern (Sterna maxima) is a slender, long-winged, long-billed bird. It has an orange bill, spiky black crest at the rear of the head, black legs and white face and belly with pale gray back and upper wings. Adults are easily noticeable by the black mask over their eyes.
Size:
The royal tern weights 12-15 ounces, is about 19-20 inches in size, and has a wingspan of 49-53 inches.
Habitat:
Terns are found along the beaches of the Gulf of Mexico, California, and north to Maryland. The Royal Tern is almost entirely restricted to salt water, where it frequents harbors, estuaries, sandy beaches, and nearshore waters on the coast. However, it is now being seen more frequently, especially in winter, over inland lakes and at phosphate mines in Florida.
Offspring:
The Royal Tern makes its nest scrape on the ground on low-lying islands. Eggs are whitish to brown, heavily spotted around the larger end. Incubation is about a month and young also take about a month to fledge.
Food:
Terns forage on shrimp and other aquatic invertebrates. They hover before diving and have been known to steal food from pelicans.

All Products Tags

bird tern royal tern shorebird shore bird seabird seabirds auntdot nature cedar key florida waterfowl

Artwork Comments

Bonnie T. Barry over 5 years ago

ABSOLUTELY wonderful! Great color, clarity, composition! You get 100 A+ from this retired school teacher!
AuntDot over 5 years ago

Thanks for the 100 A+, Bonnie! I used to teach third grade, so I know how valuable that is. I’m smiling as my students did when they got a grade like that! LOL
Monnie Ryan over 5 years ago

Wonderful composition and detail, Dot!
AuntDot over 5 years ago

Thank you so much, Monnie!
Maisie Sinclair over 5 years ago

I love this! Great job!
AuntDot over 5 years ago

Thank you so very much, Maisie!
lindaMakiej over 5 years ago

really beautiful!
AuntDot over 5 years ago

Thanks much, Linda!
AndreaEL over 5 years ago

What an interesting looking guy, beautifully captured Dot… I love the Terns
AuntDot over 5 years ago

Thanks so much, Andrea. I don’t get to see them much, and this is the first time I’ve learned one from the other.
Chris Armytage™ over 5 years ago

Beautiful capture Dot!
AuntDot over 5 years ago

Thank you soooooo much, Chris!
Ray Clarke over 5 years ago
AuntDot over 5 years ago

Thanks Ray!
John44 over 5 years ago

A work of art. Beautifully done Tante Dot :-)
AuntDot over 5 years ago

Thank you kindly, John!
JUSTART over 5 years ago

great shot
AuntDot over 5 years ago

Thanks so much, Sylvia!
Kathy Baccari over 5 years ago

Fantastic capture Dot. Aren’t they just awesome birds. Super and a fave. :)
AuntDot over 5 years ago

Thanks, Kathy. It’s a good thing some birds stand on posts, or I might never get a photo. They are always too quick for me when they are flying! LOL