Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus), Sun Lakes, Maricopa County

This Royal Tern was found by Dale Clark on 23 July and photographed by Dale Clark, Andrew Core, and Laurens Halsey on 24 July 2017

If accepted by the ABC, this would represent the second record of Royal Tern in Arizona.

Royal and Elegant terns can be difficult to separate. The dark crest is shorter on this bird that on an Elegant Tern, which shows more black on the crown and the nape. The bill of this bird is thicker, straighter, and the gonydeal angle is closer to the tip of the bill.

24 July 2017, photo by Dale Clark

24 July 2017, photo by Andrew Core

24 July 2017, photo by Laurens Halsey

All photos are copyrighted© by photographer