A sedentary species, almost circumpolar but particularly common in North Atlantic in small colonies which extend south to the Gulf of Maine
and northern UK, just in to England. Both this and the next species have a predominantly black breeding plumage, which becomes mainly white in winter. There are five races but three are restricted to single
areas so may not be valid. Mandtii, the high Arctic breeder, does show recognisable plumage differences, which could result in a split, there is also a variant in which the white in
the wing is replaced by slate grey, making the bird look all dark at any distance.
Taken Holyhead July 2011 and Shetland October 2022
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