The Royal tern (Thalasseus maximus) has a spiky, black crest and cap, and heavy, bright orange bill. It lives on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the North and South America. It is also common along many tropical and subtropical shores of West Africa. The Royal Tern makes its nest scrape on the ground on low-lying islands. The pair defecates directly on the nest rim, perhaps to reinforce the nest against flooding. After a few weeks, the nest rim hardens. They feed primarily on fish rather than crab, more than any other tern. The offering of fish by the male to the female is part of the courtship display.
