Ross's Gull
Ross's Gull, a second-calendar-year bird
Ross's Gulls are very rare visitors to Cornwall, typically breeding in the high Arctic. This individual is a second-calendar-year (first-winter) bird. In this plumage, it lacks the distinctive pink flush and black neck ring of a summer adult but may show a dark "W" pattern on its wings in flight.
The Ross's Dull (Rhodostethia rosea) is a small, dainty Arctic seabird celebrated for its striking pink-tinged plumage and unique wedge-shaped tail. Often described as "mythical" or the "holy grail" by birdwatchers, it is a rare visitor to temperate latitudes, typically spending its life near the remote Arctic pack ice.
The Ross's Gull, a rare Arctic visitor, has been recorded in Cornwall nine times as of February 2026.
Key Characteristics
Habitat and Distribution
Behaviour and Diet
Conservation Status
Globally, the species is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List with an estimated population of around 50,000 mature individuals. However, in specific regions like Canada, it is designated as Endangered due to extremely low reproductive success and a very small breeding population.
The Ross's Dull (Rhodostethia rosea) is a small, dainty Arctic seabird celebrated for its striking pink-tinged plumage and unique wedge-shaped tail. Often described as "mythical" or the "holy grail" by birdwatchers, it is a rare visitor to temperate latitudes, typically spending its life near the remote Arctic pack ice.
The Ross's Gull, a rare Arctic visitor, has been recorded in Cornwall nine times as of February 2026.
Key Characteristics
- Appearance: Breeding adults feature a soft pink flush on their breast and underparts, a narrow black "necklace" collar, and bright coral-red legs.
- Unique Tail: It is the only gull species with a distinct wedge-shaped tail, which is most visible in flight.
- Size: Small and dove-like, it measures roughly 29–31 cm in length with a wingspan of 90–100 cm.
- Flight: Its flight is described as exceptionally light, buoyant, and graceful, similar to that of a tern.
Habitat and Distribution
- Breeding: They nest in loose colonies on the swampy Arctic tundra, primarily in northeastern Siberia, with smaller populations in northern Canada and Greenland.
- Wintering: Most of the population stays in the far north, wintering at the edge of the Arctic pack ice in the Bering Sea and the Sea of Okhotsk.
- Vagrancy: It occasionally strays south in winter. Recent sightings (February 2026) have been reported in Cornwall, UK.
Behaviour and Diet
- Diet: During the breeding season, they are largely insectivorous, eating beetles and flies. At sea, they switch to small fish, crustaceans, and marine invertebrates.
- Nesting: They often nest near Arctic terns, benefiting from the terns' aggressive defense against predators like foxes and jaegers.
- Calls: Their most common sounds include an insistent yi-ki, yi-ki and high-pitched, yapping calls.
Conservation Status
Globally, the species is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List with an estimated population of around 50,000 mature individuals. However, in specific regions like Canada, it is designated as Endangered due to extremely low reproductive success and a very small breeding population.