Editing Surfbird (section)

==Distribution and habitat==
[[File:Surfbird Calidris virgata spray zone .jpg|thumb|Non-breeding surfbirds feed in the spray zone of rocky shores.]]
The surfbird has the longest and narrowest non-breeding distribution of any North American bird, being found from [[Kodiak Island]] in Alaska to the Straits of Magellan at the southern tip of South America. Along that range it is rarely found more than a few meters from the shore.<ref name="BNA" /> During the breeding season it is found on the mountains of Alaska and the western Yukon, from {{convert|150|–|1800|m|ft|abbr=on}}.<ref name="HBW" />

The surfbird starts leaving its breeding grounds from July (the last leaving in October), and begins reaching its main wintering grounds in Chile and Peru in mid August. On its return [[bird migration|migration]] it begins to leave South America in early March. Some birds remain on the wintering grounds year-round. Vagrant birds have been seen in the Falkland Islands, Florida, and Texas.<ref name="HBW" /> The migration routes are almost entirely coastal, a very small number of birds have been seen inland during migration.<ref name="BNA" />

Its breeding habitat is [[alpine tundra]], preferably rocky ridges dominated by scree, rock fields, lichens, dwarf shrubs and ''[[Dryas (plant)|Dryas]]'' (mountain avens), and less commonly in tundra with mosses and sedges. It is generally found away from suitable habitat that is close to forest. In the non breeding season, it is a rocky shore specialist, feeding on rocky shores, reefs, and ledges on the coast. It will feed from the spray zone on the water's edge to just above the tide line. In some circumstances, it will feed on sandy beaches and mudflats near rocky areas.<ref name="BNA" />