Sabine's Gull Photo Gallery
Breeding adult
Striking black-headed gull on the breeding grounds in the Arctic. Bill is black with a yellow tip.
© Daniel López-Velasco | Ornis Birding Expeditions / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, June 16, 2019Juvenile
Juveniles have a brownish back that appears scaly and a brownish neck. The outer primaries are black, narrowly edged in white.
© Michel Bourque / Macaulay LibraryQuebec, November 05, 2019Breeding adult
Sabine's Gulls typically nest along pond edges, on islands, or on low-lying marshy tundra near the shore.
© Malkolm Boothroyd / Macaulay LibraryNunavut, July 14, 2015Not all videos have soundNonbreeding adult
Nonbreeding birds have black primaries, white secondaries, and a gray back. A smudgy gray partial hood marks the head. The tail is entirely white.
© Sean Williams / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, July 12, 2020Breeding adult
Breeding birds in flight have black primaries, white secondaries, and a gray back, all of which form triangular patches of color.
© Tom Johnson / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, June 09, 2018Juvenile
Juveniles in flight look similar to breeding adults, but have paler triangular blocks of color and the tail is tipped in black.
© Raphaël Nussbaumer / Macaulay LibraryVaud, September 26, 2017Nonbreeding adult
Nonbreeding birds have black primaries, white secondaries, and a gray back. A smudgy gray partial hood marks the head. The tail is entirely white.
© Chris Wood / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, September 16, 2015Nonbreeding adult
Resting nonbreeding birds show a smudgy gray partial hood and black wingtips with a touch of white edging. The bill is black with a yellow tip.
© Marshall Iliff / Macaulay LibraryDakar, October 19, 2016Compare with Similar Species
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Species in This Family
Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers(Order: Charadriiformes, Family: Laridae)
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