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

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Palearctic birds winter W Africa, mainly between Guinea and Gabon; usually remain in tropics in 2nd and even 3rd years. Wintering grounds of American populations inadequately known, though some apparently winter on N coast of South America. Birds from NE USA gather in large post-breeding flocks in Aug-Sept, moving N to rich fishing areas on Maine coast; then migrate S, passing offshore, and species is very rare visitor to the Carolinas; common migrant off Trinidad and Guianas, but winters further S or at sea. Essentially absent from Caribbean Oct-Apr, but wintering grounds uncertain; some recoveries from Guyana suggest wintering somewhere in South America, perhaps mixed with NE birds; a juvenile ringed Long I, New York, recovered on Pacific coast of Colombia. Few sightings in Caribbean Colombia, perhaps of birds from Venezuelan colonies. Adults from NE USA have lingered in Puerto Rico during breeding season, but do not mix with resident S. dougallii. E African birds mostly absent Nov-May, may move to S Africa. Winter quarters of most other populations (e.g. of Great Barrier Reef) unknown.   (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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