Xema sabini
The Sabine's Gull, *Xema sabini*, is a small, elegant Arctic gull distinguished by its striking plumage and unique wing pattern. Measuring 27-33 cm (11-13 in) in length with a wingspan of 81-87 cm (32-34 in) and weighing 135-225 g (4.8-7.9 oz), it possesses a compact build. Breeding adults exhibit a dark grey back, white underparts, a forked tail, and a distinctive black triangular hood bordered by a narrow black collar, giving way to a grey nape. Its most diagnostic field mark is the tri-col...
Breeds on Arctic tundra, typically near freshwater ponds, lagoons, or estuaries. Winters far offshore in pelagic ocean environments, often over productive upwellings.
Feeds predominantly on marine and freshwater invertebrates (especially chironomid larvae and crustaceans), small fish, and insects caught in flight. Primarily forages by surface-dipping, skimming, and aerial hawking.
Sabine's Gulls are primarily diurnal, engaging in active foraging throughout the day. Their foraging strategies are diverse, including surface-feeding, dipping, and aerial hawking for insects, as well as kleptoparasitism, snatching food from other seabirds. During migration and winter, they often...
Sabine's Gulls boast a circumpolar Arctic breeding range, encompassing northern Alaska, Arctic Canada (including the Canadian Arctic Archipelago), Greenland, Svalbard, and the high Arctic regions of Siberia. They nest on remote tundra, typically near shallow freshwater pools or marshy areas. Foll...
Least Concern
- The Sabine's Gull is the sole member of its genus, *Xema*, highlighting its unique evolutionary path among gulls. - It undertakes one of the longest migrations of any gull species, breeding in the Arctic and wintering as far south as the Southern Ocean. - Its distinctive 'tricolored wing patter...