Measurements
Both Sexes
- Length
- 9.4–10.2 in
24–26 cm - Weight
- 4.7–8.1 oz
133–230 g
Other Names
- Bécasseau du ressac (French)
- Playero de Marejada (Spanish)
Cool Facts
- The Surfbird's winter range is among the longest and narrowest of any North American breeding bird. During the winter it can be found from Alaska to the Strait of Magellan, Chile, a distance of more than 17,500 km, and the winter range extends inland only a few meters above the tide line.
Habitat
Shore-line
Breeds in stony alpine tundra. Winters on wave-beaten rocky shores.
Food
Insects
Aquatic invertebrates and insects.
Nesting
Nest Placement
Ground
Behavior
Ground Forager
Runs over rocks chasing prey, moving continuously. Pulls mussels and barnacles from rocks and swallows them whole.
Conservation
Least Concern
Few data on population sizes. Appears stable.
Credits
- Senner, S. E., and B. J. McCaffery. 1997. Surfbird (Aphriza virgata). In The Birds of North America, No. 266 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, and The American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C.