Surfbird
Calidris virgata
- Family
- Sandpipers and Allies (Scolopacidae)
- Order
- Charadriiformes
Overview
The surfbird (Calidris virgata) is a small stocky wader in the family Scolopacidae. It was once considered to be allied to the turnstones, and placed in the monotypic genus Aphriza, but is now placed in the genus Calidris.
This bird has a short dark bill, yellow legs and a black band at the end of the white rump. In breeding plumage, it has dark streaks on the brownish head and breast with dark spots on its white underparts; the upperparts are dark with flax or sometimes rust colouring on the wings.
Summary from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Range and habitat
Breeds montane tundra of Alaska mainland (except far northern) and Yukon (northwestern Canada); winters rocky coasts from southeastern Alaska to Tierra del Fuego.
Range description: AviList Global Avian Checklist.
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia: Surfbird
- eBird: sightings, maps and photos
- xeno-canto: sound recordings
- Birds of the World: full species account (subscription)
- BirdLife DataZone: status and threats
- IUCN Red List (threat status)
- AviList global checklist (taxonomy)
Last updated September 29, 2026.
