Sabine's Gull is a small, elegant gull with a unique bold black-white-gray triangular wing pattern visible from great distances in flight. It breeds on arctic tundra and winters in the open Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, rarely coming to shore. The forked tail — unique among North American gulls — is another distinctive feature. It is regularly seen from shore during fall migration in California.
Best time to see a Sabine's Gull
The best time to see a Sabine's Gull is August–September, when about 60% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 1,265 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
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Recent Sabine's Gull sightings near you
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