Swallow-tailed Gull vs Sabine's Gull

In short

Swallow-tailed Gull and Sabine's Gull can be distinguished by their tail shapes and bill coloration. Swallow-tailed Gull has a deeply forked tail and a black bill without a yellow tip, while Sabine's Gull has a notched tail and a black bill with a yellow tip.

Identification tips

1. Tail Shape: Look for the deeply forked tail of the Swallow-tailed Gull versus the notched tail of Sabine's Gull. 2. Bill Color: Swallow-tailed Gull has a plain black bill, while Sabine's Gull has a black bill with a yellow tip. 3. Eye Ring: Swallow-tailed Gull has a distinctive red eye ring. 4. Hood: During breeding, Sabine's Gull has a black hood, which Swallow-tailed Gull lacks. 5. Behavior: Note the nocturnal foraging of Swallow-tailed Gull compared to the more shorebird-like behavior of Sabine's Gull.

Size

Both species are small gulls, but Swallow-tailed Gull is slightly larger and more robust than Sabine's Gull.

Plumage

Swallow-tailed Gull has a unique gray plumage with a white head and a distinctive red eye ring, while Sabine's Gull has a gray back, white underparts, and a striking black hood during breeding season.

Behaviour

Swallow-tailed Gull is nocturnal and forages at sea at night, whereas Sabine's Gull displays more shorebird-like behaviors, such as distraction displays and feeding on mudflats.

Habitat

Swallow-tailed Gull breeds on the Galapagos Islands and nearby areas, often on cliffs, while Sabine's Gull breeds in the Arctic and migrates to coastal areas, often seen in upwelling zones.