Sabine's Gull vs Black-tailed Gull
Xema sabini versus Larus crassirostris
Play a quiz with Sabine's Gull and Black-tailed Gull
Sabine's Gull
Black-tailed Gull
In short
Sabine's Gull and Black-tailed Gull are both part of the Laridae family but differ in key field marks. Sabine's Gull is notable for its black bill with a yellow tip and distinctive notched tail, while the Black-tailed Gull has a more typical gull appearance with a black tail band.
Identification tips
1. Bill: Look for Sabine's Gull's black bill with a yellow tip. 2. Tail: Check for the notched tail in Sabine's Gull, absent in Black-tailed Gull. 3. Size: Note the smaller size of Sabine's Gull. 4. Plumage: Observe the distinct black, white, and gray pattern of Sabine's Gull versus the more uniform gray of Black-tailed Gull. 5. Behavior: Sabine's Gull may exhibit shorebird-like behavior, unlike the more typical gull behavior of Black-tailed Gull.
Size
Sabine's Gull is smaller and more delicate compared to the larger, more robust Black-tailed Gull.
Plumage
Sabine's Gull has a striking black, white, and gray plumage with a unique notched tail. In contrast, the Black-tailed Gull has a more uniform gray body with a black tail band and lacks the notched tail.
Behaviour
Sabine's Gull exhibits behaviors similar to shorebirds and terns, such as distraction displays and feeding on mudflats. Black-tailed Gull displays more typical gull-like behavior.
Habitat
Sabine's Gull is often found in Arctic breeding grounds and migrates to the ocean, while Black-tailed Gull is more coastal, found in East Asia.
Voice
Vocalizations are not detailed in the sources, but Sabine's Gull is noted to have tern-like calls.