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Renowned for exceptionally long and unparalleled migrations between high Arctic breeding sites and Antarctic wintering grounds. Birds from Finnish archipelago depart in Jul; high Arctic birds may linger until mid-Sept. Most migration well offshore. From Siberia and W North America, moves S through E Pacific. Southbound migrants in Atlantic move SE, and juveniles reach W Africa by Aug; some remain off equatorial Africa through winter. Reaches S Africa by Oct, and many continue ESE to edge of pack ice in Nov. Crossing of Antarctic sea aided by westerly winds which drift some birds E in Southern Ocean. Many winter in Antarctic pack ice between Magnet Bay and Oates Land, with some reaching W to Weddell Sea. Accidental in S South America and New Zealand. Return migration mostly in W Atlantic, but mainly offshore. Rare in West Indies and Gulf of Mexico. Common migrant off S Africa (Oct-Nov and May), including both Nearctic and Palearctic birds.   (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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