Surfbird Similar Species Comparison

Breeding adult

Stocky shorebird with short legs and a stout bill. Breeding birds have a speckled belly. Note yellow legs.

Nonbreeding adult

Stocky shorebird with short legs and a stout bill. Nonbreeding birds are gray overall. Note yellow legs.

Nonbreeding adult

Forages along rocky intertidal zones for bivalves, mollusks, barnacles, and marine algae during the nonbreeding season.

Juvenile

In flight, note white tail with a black band and a thin white stripe down the wings.

Nonbreeding adult

Stocky shorebird or rocky coastlines. Note yellow legs and stout bill.

Juvenile

Breeding adult (with Black Turnstone)

Breeding birds have cinnamon spots on the back.

Breeding adult

Most often found foraging on rocky shorelines, but sometimes uses sandy beaches during migration.

Breeding adult

Forages along rocky shorelines.