The legs lose their brightness and turn into a muted pink hue during their breeding, though. You can spot all the birds all year round on both the eastern and western coasts of Central America.

President Higgins leads tributes after death of Matt Murphy, founder of Sherkin Island Marine Station ...

often dark wash basally (most heavily marked birds look dark-tailed); tail band sometimes broken subterminally by whitish marks. Dark brown eyes, flesh-pink bill with dark tip, flesh-pink legs.

President Higgins leads tributes after death of Matt Murphy, founder of Sherkin Island Marine Station ...

Chicks hatch with white feathers that turn gray—and later take their pink color from ... to stand on one leg. (Some postulate that it has to do with the way the birds rest.) ...