Royal Tern on East Beach, TX

A Royal Tern stands on East Beach in Galveston, Texas, wearing subtle winter plumage along the Gulf Coast. In winter, the black crown recedes, leaving a white forehead and shaggy dark crest. Compared to Sandwich Terns, Royal Terns are bulkier with thicker orange bills. Gull-billed and Forster’s Terns show slimmer shapes and different feeding styles. East Beach Galveston TX remains an excellent location to study tern identification, seasonal plumage, and coastal bird behavior.