Bird Description

Locally common on beaches and back bays. Colonial and generally roosts in large, dense packs. Weird and unmistakable, it always draws comments. Lower mandible much longer than upper mandible. Lower mandible kept under water for several yards as it sieves small fish. Also picks from surface. Often in tight flocks that make sharp turns in unison with dramatic effect. Sometimes rests with head flat on ground as if sulking. Most active at night and twilight. Yelping 'yip', usually repeated, is a common sound night and day. ID: Adult: black upperparts fading to brown. Nonbr: back of neck white. Juv: pale-fringed brown upperparts give scaly appearance. Bill small and dark initially, grows and becomes two-tone. Orange legs. Grows adult-like mantle and scapular feathers through winter and keeps through summer. In fall molts to adult plumage.