Nest.– They sometimes nest in large colonies and then again only a few pair will be found on an island. Eggs vary from gray to greenish buff, marked with brown and lilac. The two eggs usually being laid in a hollow in the sand.
Range.– North America, breeding from the Gulf Coast and Lower California to the Arctic regions.
ELEGANT TERN
In the breeding plumage the under parts of the Terns are tinged with rosy, which probably first gave the birds their name.
Nest.– They lay but a single egg, in a slight depression in the sand, creamy brown with light brown markings (2.40 × 1.40).
Range.– Central and South America, in summer to California.
FORSTERS TERN
These beautiful birds are often known as “Sea Swallows,” because of their similarity in flight to those well-known land birds. They are the picture of grace as they dart about high in the air, bill pointed downward, alert and ready to dart down upon any small fish that may take their fancy.
Nest.– A slight depression in the sand, rarely lined with grass, in which are laid three, sometimes four, eggs varying in color from almost white to brownish, thickly spotted with brown and lavender (1.80 × 1.30).
Range.– Throughout North America; breeding from Manitoba to the Gulf Coast.
COMMON TERN
This bird differs from the above in the red of the bill being more blackish at the tip, and the under parts being a pearly gray in place of white, tail not quite as much forked, and shorter; edge of outer primaries and outer tail-feathers blackish.
Nest.– These breed much more abundantly on the Atlantic coast. Their eggs are more rounded (1.75 × 1.40).
ARCTIC TERN
A similar bird to the last; more northern in its distribution; and the pearly gray mantle somewhat darker both above and below. Bill quite red and feet much smaller and bright red. When their nesting colonies are approached they will rise in clouds, circling about high in the air, uttering at times their peculiar cry.
Nest.– Similar to the others, with very little if any attempt at nest building. Usually placing the two or three eggs on the bare sand or gravel just above the water line. There is no difference in the color or markings of the eggs from the others (1.75 × 1.40).
Range.– More northerly than the preceding, to the Arctic Regions and wintering from California to the Gulf States.
ALEUTIAN TERN
This handsome Tern is of the same form and size as the Common Tern, but has a darker mantle, and the forehead is white, with a black line extending from the bill to the eye.
Nest.– Is much the same as the Arctic, but the eggs are somewhat smaller and narrower (1.70 × 1.15).
LEAST TERN
This is the smallest of our Terns; not much larger than a swallow and in flight are much the same, darting through the air, taking insects the same as swallows, or dipping into the water for small minnows that are showing themselves near the surface.
Nest.– Simply a depression in the sand or gravel just above the water line, with two to four creamy white eggs beautifully marked with different shades of brown and lilac (1.25 × .95).
Range.– Throughout the United States to northern South America, breeding abundantly on the coast of southern California.
BLACK TERN
We always think of the Terns as light colored birds, either white or pearly; but here we have one nearly black. Adults in summer having the head, neck and under parts black, with the back, wings and tail gray.
Nest.– Their nesting habits vary also as much as their color. Nests are of weeds and grass in the sloughs on the prairies. Two to four eggs are a dark greenish brown with black spots (1.35 × .95).
ALBATROSSES – Family Diomedeidæ
BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS
This bird is of a uniform sooty brown color shading into whitish at the base of the bill, which is rounded. It is noted for its extended flights, following vessels day after day without any apparent period of rest.
Nest.– They lay a single white egg upon the ground (4.00 × 2.40).
SHORT-TAILED ALBATROSS
This bird is much more shy than the former, and when following a vessel will keep a long distance behind in its search for food. With the exception of the primaries, which are black, as are also the shoulders and tail, the entire plumage is white, tinged with yellow on the back of the head.
Nest.– They breed on the islands in the North Pacific off the coast of Alaska. A single white egg is laid upon the bare ground or rocks.
Range.– Northern Pacific ocean in summer from Lower California to Alaska; most common in northern part of the range.
LAYSAN ALBATROSS
These birds are white with the exception of the back, wings and tail, which are black; bill and feet yellow.
Nest.– Their single white egg is laid upon the ground or rocks (4.00 × 2.35).
Range.– This species breeds in large numbers on the island from which it takes its name – Layson Island, of the Hawaiian Group – appearing rarely off the coast of California.
YELLOW-NOSED ALBATROSS
This is a species which inhabits the South Pacific and Indian oceans and is said to occur rarely on the California coast. An egg in the collection of Col. John E. Thayer, Lancaster, Mass., was taken on Gough Island Sept. 1st, 1888. The nest was a mound of mud and grass about two feet high. The single white egg measured 3.75 × 2.25.
SOOTY ALBATROSS
This species is entirely sooty brown except the white rim around the eyelids. One white egg is laid (4.10 × 2.75).
FULMARS AND SHEARWATERS
Family Procellariidæ
PACIFIC FULMAR
In markings these birds closely resemble the Gulls. Bill is shorter and stouter, strongly hooked at the tip, and with the nostrils opening out of a single tube, prominently located on top of the bill. Their flight is graceful like that of the Gulls.
Nest.– On the islands and cliffs of the mainland of the Northern Pacific they nest in large colonies. Every crevice in the rocks having its tenant. They lay but a single white egg on the bare rocks (2.90 × 2.00).
Range.– Northern Pacific, southerly to Lower California.
SLENDER-BILLED