Species account number 239 in the Birds of North America Life Histories for the 21st Century series.

In 1992 the American Ornithologists' Union in partnership with the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia undertook the publication of species accounts for each of the more than 700 species which breed in the United States and Canada. These illustrated reviews provide comprehensive summaries of the current knowledge of the species, with range maps and an extensive list of references. The series is complete, in 716 parts. The item number is the unique number for each species account; accounts are numbered in order of publication.

Accounts are 8 ½ x 11 inch booklets which include information about distribution, systematics, migration, habitat, sounds, behavior, breeding, appearance, and conservation.

This issue is a reprint of the original printing. No stock of the original printingremains. These photographic copies are barely distinguishable from the originals; interior pages are in black & white and lack the blue in graphs and line drawings.