Adult is dark-winged with a black and red tipped bill.
Not listed
At a glance
FamilyGulls, Terns, and Skimmers
SizeGiant
RarityRare
HabitatCoastal waters, beaches, estuaries, harbours, islands, and offshore waters depending on season.
Best timeMost reliable in Western Australia from June.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by Uku Paal
Range map
Range map
14visible hotspots
43visible records
2states
Low confidenceMediumHigh confidence
Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.
Species notes
Overview
Younger birds are dark overall with solid black wingtips, a flashing white rump, and a pale pink bill with a solid black tip. Flight is more buoyant and graceful than other similarly sized gulls. Call reminiscent of a meowing cat.
Behavior
Gathers in large flocks throughout the year.
Gallery
Regional timing
Western Australia
Queensland