Family 4. Recurvirostridae. Avocets and Stilts. 



These Km"- slender baled birds, with the bill turning upward, are striking in appearance. Their 

 long legs maki true waders of them, while the long bill enables them to read the bottom of the shal- 

 low water without the necessity of immersing the whole head and neck. 



I. Bill over 3.25. 252- American Avocet. 



II. Bill under 2.50. 253- Black=necked Stilt. 



Family 5. 

 The Phalaropes are essentially sea birds, but they pass to and fro across the country, somet 

 resting on the smaller waters. They swim readily. The female 

 contrary to the general rule among birds. 

 [. Bill ovei 1 inch long. 

 II. Bill under 1 inch long. 



PhalaropodidaE. Phalaropes. 



ro acn 



the larger and brighter colored, 



256. Wilson Phalarope. 



B. Wing 



255. Northern Phalarope. 

 254. Red Phalarope. 



U INGIPENNES. Culls. Te 



Family 1. STERCORARIIDAE. Jaegers. 



The Jaegers are the hawks among the Longipennes. The\ combine meal powers of flight with 

 the nature of a bully, stealing the fiish from Gulls and Terns in preference to catching it them- 

 selves. They reach Ohio only during the migrations or as wanderers from other localities. 



I. Length over 20 inches, middle tail feathers not pointed.257. Pomarine Jeager. 



II. Length under 18 inches, middle tail feathers pointed. 258. Parasitic Jaeger. 



Family 2. LaridaE. Gulls and Terns. 

 The members of tin- family agree in having long, pointed wings, and a hill without a hool 

 at it- tip The subfamilies differ enough in form and habits to deserve separate treatment. 



Subfamily 1. Larinae. Gulls. 



The Gulls comprise the larger members of the family Laridae. They differ from the Terns 

 in having a square tail, a bill slightly bent down, and the head either wholly black or without 

 black on the crown. They fly with the bill pointing forward in a line with the body. They snatch 



fish or refuse from the surface of 

 fish, as the Terns do. 



I. Length over 23 inches. 



A. Back dark slaty. 



B. Back pearl-gray. 



r. Black on outer primaries. 

 2. No black on the primaries. 



C. Back usually grayish or brownish, n 



darker. 



1. Tail dark. 



a. Wing over iS inches. 



b. Wing under iS inches. 



2. Tail light. 



II. Length under 20 inches. 

 A Tail pure white. 



1. Head and neck slaty-black. 



a. Outer primary mostl} black. 



b. Outer primary mostly white. 



2. Head and neck white, or washed 



3. Bill crossed bv a dark band. 

 B. Tail marked with black. 



1. Hind toe without a nail. 



2. Hind toe with a nail. 



iter, often alighting upon 



dive for 



261. Great Black=backed Gull. 



261. Great Black=backed Gull. 



262. Herring Gull. 

 260. Iceland Gull. 



265. Sabine Gull. 

 264. Bonaparte Gull. 

 259. Kittiwake. 



263. Ring=billed Gull. 



259. Kittiwake. 



264. Bonaparte Gull. 



Subfi 



All of the Te 

 downward instead 

 the surface. The 

 of the head and n 



gravel itf the beac 



