Bird Description

Locally common breeder in W, most moving to warmer areas in winter. Rare but annual to E, in coastal bays or on ocean. Large, erect and extremely elegant. Bill looks deadly. Famous courtship behavior: pairs contort and entwine, then hit the water before running away in tandem. Formerly considered conspecific with CLGR. ID: Year-round two-toned color always striking. Breeding birds average brighter bills, with cap and lores blacker than nonbr and juv, but differences marginal.