A common spring and winter resident, which is found more rarely during summer and fall, this species can often be quite hard to see during some parts of the year. Small numbers are regularly encountered through the spring (until late June or early July), but numbers are often times quite small and this species can be difficult to locate from July-September when numbers are at their lowest or during heavy ice when no open water is available during the winter. Typically only young birds are found during the summer and fall with adult birds also present in winter and spring. There are sporadic reports of this species attempting to breed on Sea Lion Rock, St. Paul Island, and St. George Island but no established population is currently known to breed within the Pribilofs.
