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The '''Sabine's Gull''' <ref>Sabine is pronounced either {{IPAc-en|ˈ|s|æ|b|aɪ|n}} (SA-bine) or {{IPAc-en|ˈ|s|eɪ|b|aɪ|n}} (SAY-bine)</ref> (''Xema sabini''), also known as a '''Fork-tailed gull''' or '''Xeme''', is a small [[gull]]. Its generic placement is disputed; some authors treat it as the [[monotypic|sole species]] in the genus ''Xema'' as '''''Xema sabini''''',<ref name=hbw>del Hoyo, J., et al. (1998). ''Handbook of the Birds of the World'' 3: 621. Lynx Edicions ISBN 84-87334-20-2.</ref> while others retain it in the genus ''[[Larus]]'' as '''''Larus sabini'''''.<ref name=bwp>Snow, D. W. & Perrins, C. M. (1998). ''The Birds of the Western Palearctic'' Concise Edition. OUP ISBN 0-19-854099-X.</ref><ref name=ebcc>Hagemeijer, W. J. M., & Blair, M. J., eds. (1997). ''The EBCC Atlas of European Breeding Birds''. Poyser, London ISBN 0-85661-091-7.</ref> It breeds in the [[arctic]] and has a circumpolar distribution through northernmost [[North America]] and [[Eurasia]]. It [[bird migration|migrates]] south in autumn; most of the population winters at sea in the [[Pacific]] off western [[South America]] in the cold waters of the [[Humboldt Current]], while [[Greenland]] and eastern Canadian [[bird]]s cross the [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]] by way of the westernmost fringes of [[Europe]] to winter off southwest [[Africa]] in the cold waters of the [[Benguela Current]]. Occasionally individual Sabine's Gulls can be seen off other coasts such as the northeastern [[United States]] or further east in Europe, typically following autumn storms.<ref name=hbw/><ref>{{cite book | last = Bull | first = John | coauthors = Farrand, Jr., John | title = The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds, Eastern Region | year = 1984 | month = April | publisher = Alfred A. Knopf | location=New York | isbn = 0-394-41405-5}}</ref>
The '''Sabine's Gull''' <ref>Sabine is pronounced either {{IPAc-en|ˈ|s|æ|b|aɪ|n}} (SA-bine) or {{IPAc-en|ˈ|s|eɪ|b|aɪ|n}} (SAY-bine)</ref> (''Xema sabini''), also known as the '''Fork-tailed gull''' or '''Xeme''', is a small [[gull]]. Its generic placement is disputed; some authors treat it as the [[monotypic|sole species]] in the genus ''Xema'' as '''''Xema sabini''''',<ref name=hbw>del Hoyo, J., et al. (1998). ''Handbook of the Birds of the World'' 3: 621. Lynx Edicions ISBN 84-87334-20-2.</ref> while others retain it in the genus ''[[Larus]]'' as '''''Larus sabini'''''.<ref name=bwp>Snow, D. W. & Perrins, C. M. (1998). ''The Birds of the Western Palearctic'' Concise Edition. OUP ISBN 0-19-854099-X.</ref><ref name=ebcc>Hagemeijer, W. J. M., & Blair, M. J., eds. (1997). ''The EBCC Atlas of European Breeding Birds''. Poyser, London ISBN 0-85661-091-7.</ref> It breeds in the [[Arctic]] and has a circumpolar distribution through northernmost [[North America]] and [[Eurasia]]. It [[bird migration|migrates]] south in autumn; most of the population winters at sea in the [[Pacific]] off western [[South America]] in the cold waters of the [[Humboldt Current]], while [[Greenland]] and eastern Canadian [[bird]]s cross the [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]] by way of the westernmost fringes of [[Europe]] to winter off southwest [[Africa]] in the cold waters of the [[Benguela Current]]. Occasionally individual Sabine's Gulls can be seen off other coasts such as the northeastern [[United States]] or further east in Europe, typically following autumn storms.<ref name=hbw/><ref>{{cite book | last = Bull | first = John | coauthors = Farrand, Jr., John | title = The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds, Eastern Region | year = 1984 | month = April | publisher = Alfred A. Knopf | location=New York | isbn = 0-394-41405-5}}</ref>


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]]. They have a very high-pitched and squeaking call.<ref name=bwp/>
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. The bill is 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]]. They have a very high-pitched and squeaking call.<ref name=bwp/>


The Sabine's Gull breeds in colonies on coasts and [[tundra]], laying two or three spotted olive-brown [[bird egg|eggs]] in a ground nest lined with [[grass]]. It is very pelagic outside the breeding season. It takes a wide variety of mainly animal food, and will eat any suitable small [[preditor|prey]]. It also steals eggs from nesting colonies of [[Arctic Tern]]s.<ref name=hbw/>
The Sabine's Gull breeds in colonies on coasts and [[tundra]], laying two or three spotted olive-brown [[bird egg|eggs]] in a ground nest lined with [[grass]]. It is very pelagic outside the breeding season. It takes a wide variety of mainly animal food, and will eat any suitable small [[predator|prey]]. It also steals eggs from nesting colonies of [[Arctic Tern]]s.<ref name=hbw/>

The specific epithet and common name honour the Irish scientist Sir [[Edward Sabine]], who had sent a specimen to his brother [[Joseph Sabine]]; the first description was in 1819, and the first part of its name is therefore pronounced as the Sabines pronounced their name i.e. "SAB-inz".


==Taxonomy and evolution==
==Taxonomy and evolution==
The Sabine's Gull is usually treated as comprising a monotypic genus, it is only placed within the genus ''Larus'' when the genus is enlarged. The black [[beak|bill]] and notched tail is almost unique within the gulls, characteristics shared only with the [[Swallow-tailed Gull]] of the [[Galapagos]]. On the basis of this the two species were often thought to be each other's closest relatives, a hypothesis ruled out by a number of behaviour and ecological differences. Mitochondrial DNA studies confirmed this, and the closest relative of the Sabine's Gull is now thought to be the [[Ivory Gull]], another Arctic species. The two species are thought to have separated a long time ago, around 2 million years ago.<ref name="BNA">{{cite web|last=Day|first=Robert H.|title=Sabine's Gull (''Xema sabin''i)|url=http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/593|work=The Birds of North America Online |publisher=Cornell Lab of Ornithology|accessdate=6 January 2011|coauthors=Stenhouse, Ian J. & H. Grant Gilchrist|location=Ithaca|doi=10.2173/bna.593|year=2001}}</ref>
The Sabine's Gull is usually treated as comprising a monotypic genus; it is only placed within the genus ''Larus'' when the genus is enlarged. The black [[beak|bill]] and notched tail are almost unique within the gulls, as they are shared only with the [[Swallow-tailed Gull]] of the [[Galapagos]]. On the basis of this the two species were often thought to be each other's closest relatives, a hypothesis ruled out by a number of behaviour and ecological differences. Mitochondrial DNA studies confirmed that they are not closely related, and the closest relative of the Sabine's Gull is now thought to be the [[Ivory Gull]], another Arctic species. The two species are thought to have separated around 2 million years ago, longer ago than most groups of gull species.<ref name="BNA">{{cite web|last=Day|first=Robert H.|title=Sabine's Gull (''Xema sabini'')|url=http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/593|work=The Birds of North America Online |publisher=Cornell Lab of Ornithology|accessdate=6 January 2011|coauthors=Stenhouse, Ian J. & H. Grant Gilchrist|location=Ithaca|doi=10.2173/bna.593|year=2001}}</ref>


==Description==
==Description==
[[File:Xema sabini -Iceland -flying-8 (6).jpg|right|thumb|Flying in Iceland]]
[[File:Xema sabini -Iceland -flying-8 (6).jpg|right|thumb|Flying in Iceland]]
The Sabine's Gull is a small gull, {{convert|27|to(-)|33|cm|in|abbr=on}} in length and weighing {{convert|135|to(-)|225|g|oz|abbr=on}}. The wings are long, thin and pointed with a span of between {{convert|81|to(-)|87|cm|in|abbr=on}}. The bill, which is black with a yellow tip, is around {{convert|2.5|cm|in|abbr=on}} long.
The Sabine's Gull is a small gull, {{convert|27|to(-)|33|cm|in|abbr=on}} in length and weighing {{convert|135|to(-)|225|g|oz|abbr=on}}. The wings are long, thin and pointed with a span of between {{convert|81|to(-)|87|cm|in|abbr=on}}. The bill, which is black with a yellow tip, is around {{convert|2.5|cm|in|abbr=on}} long.

==Name==
The specific epithet and common name honour the Irish scientist Sir [[Edward Sabine]], who sent a specimen to his brother [[Joseph Sabine]]; Joseph referred to it as ''Larus sabini'' in 1818.<ref name=OED>{{cite web | title = Sabine, n.2 | work = OED Online | date = September 2013 | publisher = Oxford University Press | accessdate = 9 November 2013 | url = http://learn.sfcc.edu:2104/view/Entry/169352?rskey=uOMksT&result=1&isAdvanced=false}}</ref> (The first accepted description was by Leach in 1819.)) The ''[[Oxford English Dictionary]]'' gives the pronunciation {{IPAc-en|ˈ|s|æ|b|aɪ|n}} {{respell|SAB|yn}},<ref name=OED/ which is the pronunciation of the surname according to a history of the Sabine family.<ref>{{cite book | last = Sabine | first = William Henry Waldo | year = 1953 | title = Sabin(e): The History of an Ancient English Surname | publisher = Privately reproduced | page = 84}} Quoted by {{cite web | last = Wright | first = Rick | date = 28-Oct-2013 | title = How Do You Say...? | work = Birding New Jersey | url = http://birdaz.com/blog/2013/10/28/how-do-you-say/ | accessdate = 9 November 2013}}</ref>


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 18:42, 9 November 2013

Sabine's Gull
In Iceland
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Aves
Order:
Charadriiformes
Family:
Laridae
Genus:
Xema

Leach, 1819
Species:
X. sabini
Binomial name
Xema sabini
(Sabine, 1819, Sabine islands, near Melville Bay, west coast of Greenland)

The Sabine's Gull [2] (Xema sabini), also known as the Fork-tailed gull or Xeme, is a small gull. Its generic placement is disputed; some authors treat it as the sole species in the genus Xema as Xema sabini,[3] while others retain it in the genus Larus as Larus sabini.[4][5] It breeds in the Arctic and has a circumpolar distribution through northernmost North America and Eurasia. It migrates south in autumn; most of the population winters at sea in the Pacific off western South America in the cold waters of the Humboldt Current, while Greenland and eastern Canadian birds cross the Atlantic by way of the westernmost fringes of Europe to winter off southwest Africa in the cold waters of the Benguela Current. Occasionally individual Sabine's Gulls can be seen off other coasts such as the northeastern United States or further east in Europe, typically following autumn storms.[3][6]

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. The bill is 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. They have a very high-pitched and squeaking call.[4]

The Sabine's Gull breeds in colonies on coasts and tundra, laying two or three spotted olive-brown eggs in a ground nest lined with grass. It is very pelagic outside the breeding season. It takes a wide variety of mainly animal food, and will eat any suitable small prey. It also steals eggs from nesting colonies of Arctic Terns.[3]

Taxonomy and evolution

The Sabine's Gull is usually treated as comprising a monotypic genus; it is only placed within the genus Larus when the genus is enlarged. The black bill and notched tail are almost unique within the gulls, as they are shared only with the Swallow-tailed Gull of the Galapagos. On the basis of this the two species were often thought to be each other's closest relatives, a hypothesis ruled out by a number of behaviour and ecological differences. Mitochondrial DNA studies confirmed that they are not closely related, and the closest relative of the Sabine's Gull is now thought to be the Ivory Gull, another Arctic species. The two species are thought to have separated around 2 million years ago, longer ago than most groups of gull species.[7]

Description

Flying in Iceland

The Sabine's Gull is a small gull, 27 to 33 cm (11–13 in) in length and weighing 135 to 225 g (4.8–7.9 oz). The wings are long, thin and pointed with a span of between 81 to 87 cm (32–34 in). The bill, which is black with a yellow tip, is around 2.5 cm (0.98 in) long.

Name

The specific epithet and common name honour the Irish scientist Sir Edward Sabine, who sent a specimen to his brother Joseph Sabine; Joseph referred to it as Larus sabini in 1818.[8] (The first accepted description was by Leach in 1819.)) The Oxford English Dictionary gives the pronunciation /ˈsæbaɪn/ SAB-yn,Cite error: The <ref> tag has too many names (see the help page).

References

  1. ^ Template:IUCN
  2. ^ Sabine is pronounced either /ˈsæbaɪn/ (SA-bine) or /ˈseɪbaɪn/ (SAY-bine)
  3. ^ a b c del Hoyo, J., et al. (1998). Handbook of the Birds of the World 3: 621. Lynx Edicions ISBN 84-87334-20-2.
  4. ^ a b Snow, D. W. & Perrins, C. M. (1998). The Birds of the Western Palearctic Concise Edition. OUP ISBN 0-19-854099-X.
  5. ^ Hagemeijer, W. J. M., & Blair, M. J., eds. (1997). The EBCC Atlas of European Breeding Birds. Poyser, London ISBN 0-85661-091-7.
  6. ^ Bull, John (1984). The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds, Eastern Region. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN 0-394-41405-5. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  7. ^ Day, Robert H. (2001). "Sabine's Gull (Xema sabini)". The Birds of North America Online. Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology. doi:10.2173/bna.593. Retrieved 6 January 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ "Sabine, n.2". OED Online. Oxford University Press. September 2013. Retrieved 9 November 2013.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Xema sabini.
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