November89.
Credit: Aaron Maizlish

North American field guide

Surfbird

Aphriza virgata

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Identification

Field notes

25 cm (10") Common. Rocky Pacific coast shorelines. Nests in tundra above treeline.

Base of bill is yellow. Legs are yellowish green. White tail with a dark broad band at tip.

Breeding: heavily streaked and spotted with dusky black above and below, some chestnut on back.

Fall, winter: solid dark gray head and breast.

Song: sharp "pe-weet".

Watch and learn

Videos

2 videos
Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant 1 rule

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Surfbird

1 rule
Rule 1 12 criteria confidence 6
In FLIGHT did the bird display a LIGHT WING STRIPE or PATCH ?
Yes · Unknown
What colour were the LEGS or FEET ?
Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Olive (yellowish-green) · Green · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?
Streaked lengthwise (from head to tail) · Spotted or mottled · Barred crosswise (from side to side) · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?
Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?
Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?
Short · Medium · Long · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?
Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?
Sandpiper-like
WHERE was the bird seen ?
Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States