Species BirdsSabine's Gull

Sabine's Gull

Xema sabini

UncommonBird
Illustration of Sabine's Gull (Xema sabini)

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.

Habitat
Arctic tundra when breeding; open ocean; occasionally coastal headlands in fall migration
Diet
Small fish and invertebrates
How common
Uncommon

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