Surfbird (Aphriza virgata) 19 August 2010 at Half Moon Bay, SM Photo © 2010 Joseph Morlan


This species is endemic to North America, breeding in the mountains of central Alaska and the Yukon and wintering along the Pacific Coast from Alaska to Central America. In California it is locally common as a migrant and winter visitor.

This is an adult molting from breeding (alternate) plumage into winter (basic) plumage. The result is rather patchy appearance containing a mixture of plumage patterns.

The bill is unusually short and blunt for a sandpiper which is one reason it is still placed in its own genus. However, its closest relative appears to be the Great Knot (Calidris tenuirostris). A testament to this relationship is the occurrence of a presumed hybrid between Surfbird and Great Knot photographed and studied extensively in San Diego last year. Given the situation, I wonder how much longer the Sufbird will remain in Aphriza. Merging into Calidris would seem to be appropriate.


Digiscoped with Panasonic DMC-LZ5 | Nikon FieldScope 3 | 30X WA | hand-held (no adapter)
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