In the Americas, the royal terns on the east coast, during the breeding season (April to July), occur in the US north to Virginia, occasionally drifting north to Maryland.
The southern end of their breeding range is Texas.
The wintering range on the east coast is from North Carolina south to Panama and the Guianas, also the Caribbean islands.
On the western coast of the Americas, the royal tern spends the breeding season from the US state of California to Mexico, wintering from California south to Peru.

American birds migrate south to Peru and Argentina for the winter to escape the cold weather.
African birds may reach as far north as Spain.
This species has also wandered to Western Europe as a rare vagrant, these terns are probably from the American colonies.
In the Americas, the royal terns on the east coast, during the breeding season (April to July), occur in the US north to Virginia, occasionally drifting north to Maryland. The southern end of their breeding range is Texas. The wintering range on the east coast is from North Carolina south to Panama and the Guianas, also the Caribbean islands. On the western coast of the Americas, the royal tern spends the breeding season from the US state of California to Mexico, wintering from California south to Peru.
American birds migrate south to Peru and Argentina for the winter to escape the cold weather. African birds may reach as far north as Spain. This species has also wandered to Western Europe as a rare vagrant, these terns are probably from the American colonies.
Royal tern