Surfbirds are perfectly named: they spend most of their lives in the splash zone of rocky ocean shorelines—a precarious place to make a living.

The surfbird has the longest and narrowest non-breeding distribution of any North American bird, being found from Kodiak Island in Alaska to the Straits of Magellan at the southern tip of South America.

Surfbirds are relatively easy to find in the nonbreeding season along rocky Pacific shorelines. At high tide, look for them roosting on rock jetties or other inaccessible sites, often among Black Turnstones, Sanderlings, and Wandering Tattlers.

Named for its winter haunts, the Surfbird spends the winter (as well as migration seasons) on rocky coastlines pounded by the surf, often clambering about the rocks barely above the reach of the waves. But this stocky little sandpiper leads a double life, abandoning the coast in late spring.

Learn more about Surfbird from… Stocky, short-legged shorebird that thrives on rocky shorelines. Look for short, blunt bill with orangey base and dull yellow legs. Overall gray with a white belly. In breeding plumage, develops more extensive dark spotting on …

Surfbirds use steep slopes and ridges at or near mountain summits, and seldom nest near wooded landscapes. They nest as low as 500 feet and as high as 6,000 feet elevation, but sometimes fly to lower elevations to forage when nesting. On those occasions, they may visit lake shores or coastal mudflats.

The surfbird has the longest and narrowest non-breeding distribution of any North American bird, being found from Kodiak Island in Alaska to the Straits of Magellan at the southern tip of South America.

The Surfbird is a hardy sandpiper-size shorebird. This dark-coloured sturdy bird nests on the mountain slopes in Alaska and the Yukon Territory. It can be confused with the Great Knot because of similar plumage colours.

Jul 11, 2024 · Discover the surfbird's remarkable journey from rocky coasts to Arctic breeding grounds. Uncover its unique adaptations, feeding habits, and captivating behaviors in harsh environments.

surfbird, (Aphriza virgata), American shorebird that has a black triangle on its otherwise white tail. Surfbirds are about 25 centimetres (10 inches) long. With the knots, they constitute the subfamily Calidritinae (family Scolopacidae).