Sabine's Gull (species: Xema sabini) in Birds of Honduras (Gaia Guide)

Birds of Honduras > Aves > Charadriiformes > Laridae > Xema sabini (gallery)

Xema sabini

Sabine's Gull

©Ómar Runólfsson: Sabine's Gull (Xema sabini)

©Blake Matheson: Sabine's Gull (Xema sabini)

©Muchaxo on Flickr: Sabine's Gull (Xema sabini)

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Kingdom Animalia

Phylum Chordata

Class Aves

Order Charadriiformes

Family Laridae

Genus Xema

Species Xema sabini

Status least concern

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Colours

Distinguishing features

This species is easy to identify through its striking wing pattern. The adult has a pale grey back and wing coverts, black primary flight feathers and white secondaries. The white tail is forked. The male's hood darkens during breeding season. Their bills are black with a yellow tip. Young birds have a similar tricoloured wing pattern, but the grey is replaced by brown, and the tail has a black terminal band. The juveniles take two years to attain full adult plumage. (Wikipedia)