This species is an uncommon but regular Fall migrant. Most of the California individuals are juveniles such as this. They are long distance migrants, breeding in the High Arctic and wintering in the Andes and adjacent lowlands of South America. Adults are already on their wintering grounds by now, apparently flying most of the way non-stop. The juveniles take longer, and must navigate to their winter home without guidance from their parents. Notice the long primaries project well beyond the folded tertials giving a long-winged effect. Long-distance migrants often evolve longer wings to aid in migration, and this species is
a classic example of that adaptation.
