Sabine's Gull - Xema sabini
Sabine's Gull - Xema sabini
Wingspan:
32-36 inches
Seasonality:
Very Rare Migrant
ID
Keys: Striking wing pattern in flight of black outerprimaries and
white inner primaries and secondaries
Sabine's
Gull
Xema sabini
Sabine's Gulls are small
gulls normally found in the high Arctic in summer, and off the continental shelf
in the Southern Hemisphere in the winter. After breeding season, they
spend the vast majority of their time at sea, and are only rarely seen from
shore. However, in the fall a few birds (primarily immatures) might be
found far inland, such as the young bird at the right which was photographed on
the Missouri River in Pierre in September 2003.
Habitat:
Summer
breeding grounds are on the low marshy Arctic Tundra near the coastline. In
migration and in winter, they prefer to stay a several miles offshore over the
continental shelf where upwelling of cold water occurs. Only rarely are
migrants found inland.
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