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Small oceanic gull with stunning wing pattern.
Not listed
At a glance
FamilyGulls, Terns, and Skimmers
SizeMedium
RarityRare
HabitatCoastlines, harbours, offshore waters, estuaries, headlands, beaches, and large inland water when conditions suit.
Best timeMost reliable in Western Australia from January.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by Stein Ø. Nilsen
Range map
Range map
7visible hotspots
24visible records
2states
SparseModerateDense hotspot
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
All ages show distinctive black outer wing, white inner wing, and dark back. Breeding adults have a dark gray head and black bill with yellow tip. Nonbreeding adults have similar distinctive bill but with a mostly white face. Young birds are browner above than adults, with a crisp scaly pattern on the back. Breeds on Arctic tundra.
Behavior
Often seen in flocks during migration and winter, generally far offshore. Rarely seen from shore, but occasionally shows up at large inland bodies of water.
Gallery