Editing Surfbird (section)

{{short description|Species of bird}}
{{About|the bird|the [[United States Navy]] [[Minesweeper (ship)|minesweeper]]|USS Surfbird (AM-383)}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Aphriza virgata Cayucos 2.jpg
| image_caption = In worn {{birdgloss|alternate plumage|breeding plumage}}
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 11 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=BirdLife International |date=2016 |title=''Calidris virgata'' |volume=2016 |page=e.T22693356A93398351 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22693356A93398351.en |access-date=11 November 2021}}</ref>
| taxon = Calidris virgata
| authority = ([[Johann Friedrich Gmelin|Gmelin, JF]], 1789)
| synonyms = 
''Aphriza virgata''
| range_map = Calidris virgata map.svg
| range_map_caption = {{leftlegend|#FF7F2A|Breeding}}{{leftlegend|#5F8DD3|Nonbreeding}}
}}

The '''surfbird''' ('''''Calidris virgata''''') is a small stocky [[wader]] in the family [[Scolopacidae]]. It was once considered to be allied to the [[turnstone]]s, and placed in the monotypic genus ''Aphriza'', but is now placed in the genus ''[[Calidris]]''.

This bird has a short dark [[beak|bill]], yellow legs and a black band at the end of the white rump. In breeding plumage, it has dark streaks on the brownish head and breast with dark spots on its white underparts; the upperparts are dark with rust colouring on the wings. Birds in winter [[plumage]] and immature birds are mainly grey on the upperparts and breast and white on the underparts with streaking.
Their breeding habitat is rocky [[tundra]] areas in [[Alaska]] and the [[Yukon]]. The female lays 4 eggs in a depression on the ground lined with vegetation. Both parents look after the young birds, who feed themselves.

These birds [[bird migration|migrate]] to the [[Pacific]] coasts of [[North America|North]] and [[South America]], from southern Alaska to [[Tierra del Fuego]].

On the nesting grounds, these birds mainly eat insects and some seeds. At other times of year, they eat [[mollusk]]s and [[crustacean]]s found along the surf line on rocky coasts and are usually found in small flocks, often with [[turnstone]]s.

The song is a whistled ''tee tee tee''.