Sabine's Gull

Sabine's Gull, adult breeding plumage

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Sabine's Gull, adult non-breeding plumage

Sabine's Gull juvenile

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1. Description
2. Sound
3. Conservation Status
4. Other Names
5. Cool Facts
6. Full detailed species account

An unusual and distinctive arctic gull that breeds at high latitudes but winters near the tropics. A striking gull in all plumages with a bold upper wing pattern, long pointed wings, a notched tail, and a short black bill with a yellow tip.

Description

• Wings show bold pattern of black, white, and gray triangles in flight.
• Tail notched.
• Bill black with yellow tip.

• Size: 34 cm (13 in)
• Weight: 155-213 g (5.47-7.52 ounces)

Sex Differences

Sexes alike in plumage, male slightly larger than female.

Sound

Chirping, groaning, and rattling that resemble calls of terns more than gulls.

Conservation Status

Not a species of concern in America because their relatively large populations breed away from human disturbance. But their habitat makes them somewhat vulnerable to oil pollution.

Other Names

Mouette de Sabine (French)
Gaviota de Sabine (Spanish)

Cool Facts

• Most yearling Sabine's Gulls do not attempt to breed and do not return to the breeding grounds. Their summer home is still relatively unknown.

• Although most Sabine's Gulls migrate along the coasts or at sea, some migrate directly north-south, directly across North America.

• The only member of its genus, the Sabine's Gull is like no other gull. Many of its behaviors resemble those of terns more than gulls.

Sources used to construct this page:

Day, R. H., I. J. Stenhouse, and H. G. Gilchrist. Sabine's Gull (Xema sabini). In The Birds of North America, No. 593 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.