# Surfbird (*Calidris virgata*) The Surfbird is a small, energetic bird that loves to run along the shore. It has a beautiful gray-brown body and a cheerful, chirpy voice. Surfbirds are often seen hopping on rocks and searching for tasty snacks in the sand. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Coastal areas ![Surfbird](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Surf_Bird_%28Aphriza_virgata%29_%2813853530975%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Dominic Sherony, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Surf_Bird_%28Aphriza_virgata%29_%2813853530975%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Surfbird is a medium-sized, stocky shorebird with dark brownish-grey upperparts streaked with white in breeding plumage. Its white underparts are heavily marked with dark streaking on the chest and flanks, contrasting with its bright yellowish legs and short, thick bill. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Charadriiformes - **Family:** Scolopacidae - **Genus:** Calidris ## Interesting facts - Surfbirds travel over 8,000 kilometers from Alaska to South America! - They often forage right where ocean waves crash onto the shore! - They use powerful kicks to dislodge stubborn snails and limpets from rocks! - This bird nests only on remote, rocky mountain slopes in the Arctic! ## Special abilities - **Rock Flipping Pro:** Surfbirds can powerfully kick and flip over stones because of their strong legs, helping them find hidden prey like limpets and crabs. - **Rocky Explorer:** Surfbirds can deftly navigate treacherous, wave-washed rocks because of their strong legs and gripping toes, allowing them to access prime feeding spots. - **Migration Marathoner:** Surfbirds can fly thousands of kilometers non-stop because of their incredible endurance, allowing them to migrate from the Arctic to South America. - **Coastal Camouflage:** Surfbirds have mottled plumage that helps them blend perfectly with the speckled rocks of the shore, making them hard for predators to spot. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 23-26 cm - **Wingspan:** 55-60 cm - **Weight:** 0.13-0.22 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-12 years - **Speed:** 65 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 4 - **Incubation:** 22-24 days - **Migration Distance:** 8000 km ## Diet & Feeding They eat small marine creatures like snails and crabs, found by flipping rocks on the shore. - **Primary Foods:** Limpets, Barnacles, Periwinkles, Crabs, Marine worms, Insect larvae - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Peregrine Falcon](https://www.snappit.app/explore/peregrine-falcon) (*Falco peregrinus*) — A top predator, preys on many shorebirds. - **Eats:** Ribbed Limpet (*Lottia digitalis*) — Surfbirds flip rocks to find and consume these marine snails. - **Eats:** Acorn Barnacle (*Balanus glandula*) — Crushes barnacles with its bill found on intertidal rocks. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch birds from a distance and don't try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Surfbird? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Surfbird? 23-26 cm ### What is Surfbird's wingspan? 55-60 cm ### How much does Surfbird weigh? 0.13-0.22 kg ### How long does Surfbird live? 10-12 years ### How fast can Surfbird move? 65 km/h ### What does Surfbird eat? They eat small marine creatures like snails and crabs, found by flipping rocks on the shore. ### Where is Surfbird usually found? Coastal areas ## Where to spot - [Pike Place Market](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/pike-place-market) — Washington, US · Historic District - [Sabine Channel Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sabine-channel-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park - [Roberts Creek Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/roberts-creek-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park [View all places to see Surfbird](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/surfbird) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Surfbird: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/surfbird)