Over one of the small Keys in Hawk Channel, Florida, I witnessed the most extraordinary exhibition of aerial mastery I ever saw. Something hidden in the mangroves had excited the ire or curiosity of about a hundred of these buccaneers. Down they fell, feathered-javelins — up — off — then down again! At times they all descended in a phalanx and I marveled how collision was averted. Then they lost interest and swept over us with perfect ease and on motionless pinions — eight feet of wing-spread carrying four pounds of body.
Altho predatory, threatening and compelling other birds to disgorge food, they often seize aquatic food in a long swoop. They never dive and are poor swimmers becoming almost helpless when plumage is wet. The air is their home and there they stay thru calm or storm.
From Southern California and Gulf coast south to tropical waters.