Much less widespread than the previous species, it
has three distinct breeding areas, the main one being in northwest USA, Alaska and Canada, with smaller
populations around the Gulf of St. Lawrence and Quebec, and Iceland. Another hole nester, the Icelandic
population uses holes in volcanic rock or soil, under vegetation. An extreme rarity in the UK and Ireland, about
six records which probably includes returning birds, so may only represent about two or three individuals.
The origin of these is possibly the Icelandic population, which is otherwise strictly sedentary, other birds
moving to coasts and south in winter. The wild bird shown was seen on the Ythan Estuary in 2006.
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HOMEPAGE
