Habitat

A tropical and subtropical species, ranging along coasts and offshore islands in the western hemisphere north to 25°N in Mexico and Florida, south only to 5°S in Ecuador (probably limited by cold waters of the Humboldt Current) but following warm waters of the Brazil Current as far as 27°S in Brazil (Sick 1993). Breeding habitats include man-grove cays on coral reefs, and deciduous trees and bushes on dry islands. Feeding range while breeding includes shallow water within lagoons, coral reefs, and deep ocean out of sight of land. Nesting habitats include low-growing beach scrub vegetation such as Scaevola spp., dry deciduous trees and bushes such as Crataeva tapia, and a variety of mangrove trees (Rhizophora mangle and, less often, Laguncularia racemosa, Avicennia germinan, and Conacarpus erectus) in most of the Caribbean (Nelson 1975, Carmona et al. 1995). Usually far from human habitation. In Florida, tends to nest on lee side of islands in relation to the prevailing southeastern winds (Robertson and Wilmers 1995), possibly because of lessened ability of heavier females to fly in calm conditions (Harrington et al. 1972). See also Breeding: nest site, below.

Warm coastal and pelagic waters, coasts, and offshore islands throughout breeding range. Roosts in trees along coasts, often taller than those used for nesting (AWD); during severe storms, may be driven far inland.