Royal Tern

Thalasseus maximus

Not actually a gull — the classic Gull-dex gotcha
SummerSeasonal

How to ID it

  • Orange bill with shaggy black crest
  • Not a gull — a common gotcha ID question

Field marks at a glance

Head
black crest
Bill
orange bill

Where & when

Summer

Learn more

Sources

  • Facts — local research (plan.md), verified July 2026
  • Reference — ebird.org
  • Reference — audubon.org