SUEF BIRD 277 



DISTRIBUTION 



Range. — Western North and South America. 



Breeding range. — The breeding range of the surf bird is evidently 

 in the higher mountains of the interior of Alaska. The nest and 

 eggs have been found on one occasion only, in the Mount McKinley 

 district (Dixon, 1927), but Murie (1924) found young, apparently 

 about a week old, at the headwaters of Forty-mile River. There 

 also seems a strong probability that the species breeds in the Selawik 

 Range on the south side of the Kowak Valley (Grinnell, 1900), 

 and in the region around the head of the Savage River in the 

 Alaska Range (Murie, 1924). 



Sharing a trait with other shore birds, some nonbreeders fre- 

 quently remain through the summer at points far south of the breed- 

 ing grounds. During this period they have been noted in California 

 (Santa Barbara and the Farallone Islands) ; Oregon (Newport) ; 

 and Washington (Destruction Island and Camp Mora, Clallam 

 County). 



^Y^nter range. — In winter the surf bird is found on the Pacific 

 coast both of North and South America. It has been detected 

 south to the Straits of Magellan (Van Island in Trinity Channel), 

 and at other points on the coast of Chile (Valdivia, Paposo, and 

 Atacama) ; and Peru (Pisco Bay). At this season in North America 

 it has been collected or observed in California (Monterey and 

 probably San Francisco Bay region) ; Oregon (Cape Meares, Can- 

 non Beach, and the entrance to Yaquina Bay) ; Washington (Jef- 

 ferson County and Destruction Island) ; and Alaska (Wrangel and 

 Craig). These latter records would appear to indicate that some 

 individuals are only partially migratory. 



Migration. — Because of the extensive areas that may be occupied 

 by the species, particularly in winter, and in view of the scarcity 

 of existing data, it is difficult to present an adequate picture of its 

 migrations. The following dates may, however, throw some light on 

 its movements. 



Sjnnng migration. — Early dates of arrival are Lower California, 

 San Geronimo Island, March 15; California, San Diego, March 19 

 Oregon, Newport, March 21; Washington, Puget Sound, March 8 

 and Alaska, Admiralty Island, April 17, Forrester Island, Ap?:-il 20 

 Kuiu Island, April 25, Craig, May 9, and Kobuk River, May 29. 



Late dates of spring departure are Chile, Van Island, March 3; 

 Lower California, San Geronimo Island, April 13, Turtle Bay, April 

 14, and Abreojos Point, April 19; California, Los Angeles, May 1, 

 Santa Barbara, May 4, Point Pinos, May 10, and San Nicolas Island, 

 May 15; Oregon, Newport, May 3; and Washington, Jefferson 

 County, April 28. 



