This species is a bird of the winter pack ice in the vicinity of the Pribilofs with few local records owing to the general lack of coverage during that season. Most records are from late winter (January-March) when the winter sea ice typically reaches the farthest south and can be present around the islands. There is a single record from early May after a record winter for sea ice.
A count of approximately 250 on 21 February 1983 was made 75 miles east of the Pribilofs and was the highest number ever recorded in Alaska at the time.