Algeria, Bahamas, Belgium, Canada (B) (P), Cape Verde, Denmark (NB) (P), Faroe Islands (B) (NB), France (B) (NB) (P), Gambia, Germany (B) (NB), Gibraltar (NB), Greece (NB), Greenland (NB), Guinea-bissau, Iceland (B) (NB), Ireland (B) (NB), Israel, Italy (NB), Lebanon (NB), Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Macedonia [The Former Yugoslav Republic of] (NB), Malta (NB), Mauritania, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands Antilles (NB), Norway (B), Portugal (NB), Russia (European) (B), Senegal, Sierra Leone, Spain (NB), St Pierre and Miquelon (P), Sweden, Tunisia, Turkey (NB), Turks and Caicos Islands, United Kingdom (B) (NB), USA (B), Western Sahara.
Vagrant to Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia (Local Name: Hrvatska), Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland, Russia (Central Asian), Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands, Syrian Arab Republic, Trinidad and Tobago.
Breeds both sides of Atlantic, 48° - 66° northern on eastern side, reaching 72° northern in Norway; more restricted on western side, 46° - 50° N. Winters southern down coasts, some reaching equator.
 
Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.
Population
Estimated population is 950,000 - 1,200,000 (2010).
The Reader's Digest Book of British Birds 1980, 3rd Edition, Drive Publications Ltd ISBN 0 340 25308 8
Birds in Colour Campbell, B., 1960, Penguin Books Ltd
The Pocket Guide to Nest and Eggs Fitter, R.S.R., 1954, Collins
RSPB Handbook of British Birds Holden, P., Cleeves, T., 2002, A & C Black ISBN 0 7136 5713 8
Birds of Britain and Europe Sterry, P., et al., 2001, AA Publishing ISBN 0 7495 3068 5
The Popular Handbook of British Birds Hollom, P.A.D., 1973, H.F. & G. Witherby Ltd ISBN 0 85493 002 7