The Surfbird is a plover-like sandpiper of rocky Pacific shores, where it forages on wave-washed boulders and kelp-covered rocks for mussels and barnacles. It is an inconspicuous gray bird in winter but develops a striking black-and-chestnut spotted pattern in breeding plumage. It breeds on rocky ridges in Alaska and the Yukon.
Best time to see a Surfbird
The best time to see a Surfbird is November–April, when about 65% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 3,319 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
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Recent Surfbird sightings near you
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