Species fact sheet by Global Register of Migratory Species - www.groms.de

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Northernmost populations migratory; populations of S Greenland resident. Post-breeding birds linger around colony areas into Aug or Sept. young disperse more widely than adults. Birds from E Greenland more migratory than those in W Greenland, the latter moving mainly from inland fjords to coast after breeding, and dispersing mainly along coast in winter. Some Greenland birds disperse to N America, most to Iceland and Faeroes, fewer to NW Europe. Those from E Greenland move mainly to Iceland, where species is very common in winter. Birds from Baffin I move S to Hudson Bay, and thence to the Maritime Provinces, wintering sparsely from Labrador to E Greek Lakes and Virginia. Most birds reaching New England, Middle Atlantic states and N & NW Europe are juveniles; they usually associate with L.argentatu in harbours and at rubbish dumps. Numbers reaching S areas vary annually.   (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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