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

Use the GROMS database for dynamic search for migratory species, new links and references.

Post-breeding movement started by late Jul, N to Arctic Ocean, and then migrating E or W along the coast or edge of pack ice; arrives back at breeding grounds in late May, depending on snow and ice conditions. Winter distribution poorly known, but presumably along edge of pack ice. Very rare even in Bering Sea after winter. Sept-Oct records around Wrangel I and in Chukchi and Beaufort Seas, with birds often flying NE ahead of westerly winds; presumably these birds continue past Barrow, Alaska, where birds first seen in early Aug; with notable movements from late Sept to early Oct when thousands pass NE to feed in Beaufort Sea; many or most return W in Oct-Nov to their unknown wintering grounds. No corresponding spring movement. From Siberia, birds disperse W in Aug-Sept, eventually reaching Franz Josef and Spitsbergen. Ocean transacts from E Greenland to Franz Josef Land recorded 1000 birds, mainly in groups of 2-16, 90% in adult plumage. Rare visitor to Europe, and accidental in USA in winter.   (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,
• Copyright: GROMS/BfN - www.groms.de