tern, Onychoprion anaethetus (R*) Least tern, Sternula antillarum (R*) Gull-billed tern, Gelochelidon nilotica (R*) Caspian tern, Hydroprogne caspia Black tern, Chlidonias niger Roseate tern, Sterna dougallii (R) Common tern, Sterna hirundo Arctic tern, Sterna paradisaea (R) Forster's tern, Sterna forsteri Royal tern, Thalasseus maximus (R*) Sandwich tern, Thalasseus sandvicensis (R*) Black skimmer, Rynchops niger (R*) Tropicbirds Order: PhaethontiformesFamily: Phaethontidae Tropicbirds are slender white birds of tropical oceans with exceptionally long central tail feathers. Their long wings have black markings, as does the head. Two species have been recorded in Maryland. White-tailed tropicbird, Phaethon lepturus (R) Red-billed tropicbird, Phaethon aethereus (R) Loons Order: GaviiformesFamily: Gaviidae Loons are aquatic birds that are the size of a large duck, to which they are unrelated. Their plumage is largely gray or black, and they have spear-shaped bills. Loons swim well and fly adequately, but, because their legs are placed towards the rear of the body, are extremely poor at walking. Three species have been recorded in Maryland. Red-throated loon, Gavia stellata Pacific loon, Gavia pacifica (R) Common loon, Gavia immer Albatrosses Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Diomedeidae The albatrosses are among the largest of flying birds, and the great albatrosses from the genus Diomedea have the largest wingspans of any extant birds. One species has been recorded in Maryland. Yellow-nosed albatross, Thalassarche chlororhynchos (R) Southern storm-petrels Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Oceanitidae The storm-petrels are the smallest seabirds, relatives of the petrels, feeding on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. The flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like. Until 2018, this family's three species were included with the other storm-petrels in family Hydrobatidae. Two species have been recorded in Maryland. Wilson's storm-petrel, Oceanites oceanicus (R*) White-faced storm-petrel, Pelagodroma marina (R) Northern storm-petrels Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Hydrobatidae Though the members of this family are similar in many respects to the southern storm-petrels, including their general appearance and habits, there are enough genetic differences to warrant their placement in a separate family. Two species have been recorded in Maryland. Leach's storm-petrel, Hydrobates leucorhous (R*) Band-rumped storm-petrel, Hydrobates castro (R) Shearwaters and petrels Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Procellariidae The procellariids are the main group of medium-sized "true petrels", characterized by united nostrils with medium septum and a long outer functional primary. Eight species and a species pair have been recorded in Maryland. Northern fulmar, Fulmarus glacialis (R*) Trindade petrel, Pterodroma arminjoniana (R) Black-capped petrel, Pterodroma hasitata (R) Zino's petrel/Fea's petrel, Pterodroma