Gifford notes that these birds on Daphne Island circled on motionless wing over their hillside homes. Whenever one came opposite a certain entrance it fluttered the wings and poised a moment as tho about to alight then swung off. This was repeated a dozen times before the bird entered the hole.
They are extremely pugnacious in defense of their homes, voicing a series of high rasping notes and striking viciously with the sharp bills at an intruder.
Tropical Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Casual in Bermuda and one recorded on Newfoundland Banks. On Pacific north to southern California.