Western coastal lands of North America including the states of California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska and the province of British Columbia.

Fairly numerous and feeds noisily in intertidal zone on rocky coasts at low tide. They can be seen singly or in small flocks, sometimes with sandpipers. Roosts and nests on nearby beaches or rocks above tide line.

Blackish body, red bill, pink legs.

Juvenile is browner and the bill has a dusky tip during the first year