Similar Species
Black Turnstone
Nonbreeding
Black Turnstones have shorter legs and a thinner bill than Surfbirds. They are also darker overall than Surfbirds and do not have orange at the base of the bill like Surfbirds.
© Andrew Johnson | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, February 18, 2017Similar Species
Rock Sandpiper
Breeding
Rock Sandpipers have a longer, thinner, slightly drooping bill, and duller legs than Surfbirds.
© Brian Sullivan | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, April 20, 2008Similar Species
Rock Sandpiper
Nonbreeding
Rock Sandpipers have a longer, thinner, slightly drooping bill, and duller legs than Surfbirds.
© Caroline Lambert | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, January 16, 2015Similar Species
Wandering Tattler
Breeding adult
Wandering Tattlers have a longer and thinner body with a longer bill than Surfbirds.
© Jacob Drucker | Macaulay LibraryHawaii, April 05, 2016Similar Species
Wandering Tattler
Nonbreeding adult
Wandering Tattlers have a longer and thinner body with a longer bill than Surfbirds.
© Brian Sullivan | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, September 26, 2014Main Species
Surfbird
Breeding adult
Stocky shorebird with short legs and a stout bill. Breeding birds have a speckled belly. Note yellow legs.
© Dorian Anderson | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, March 26, 2016Nonbreeding adult
Stocky shorebird with short legs and a stout bill. Nonbreeding birds are gray overall. Note yellow legs.
© Matt Brady | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, January 09, 2011Nonbreeding adult
Forages along rocky intertidal zones for bivalves, mollusks, barnacles, and marine algae during the nonbreeding season.
© Brian Sullivan | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, December 21, 2013Nonbreeding adult
In flight, note white tail with a black band and a thin white stripe down the wings.
© Steven Mlodinow | Macaulay LibraryWashington, October 27, 2011Nonbreeding adult
Stocky shorebird or rocky coastlines. Note yellow legs and stout bill.
© Luke Seitz | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, March 09, 2017Breeding adult with Black Turnstone
Breeding birds have cinnamon spots on the back.
© Brian Sullivan | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, March 21, 2009Breeding adult
Most often found foraging on rocky shorelines, but sometimes uses sandy beaches during migration.
© Keith Parker | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, March 19, 2017Breeding adult
Forages along rocky shorelines.
© Caleb Hawley | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, March 28, 2017