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Wanders N to Alaska and Yukon. Winters from S part of breeding range S to Greater Antilles; becoming commoner in Central America, both in the interior and along coasts; also occurs increasingly in Lesser Antilles; first recorded in Florida in 1930, now common in winter. E population migrates to Atlantic coast and S to Gulf Coast, few reaching West Indies and Central America. Birds of plains and mountain states move to pacific coast. Large numbers remain on Great Lakes until freeze-up. Most Great Lakes birds return to the lake where they hatched, but not necessarily to same colony. Since mid-1970's has become regular vagrant to W Palearctic (see page 595), especially in British Is, where records span all months of the year; massive influx of over 400 individuals in first half of 1980's has led to species becoming a virtual resident in some coastal areas.   (del Hoyo J, Elliott A, Sargatal J (eds), 1996)

• digitised by GROMS, after del Hoyo J A Elliott; J Sargatal (eds) (1996) - www.hbw.com,
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