Photo: Hiraku Senzaki / CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Ross’s Gull
Rhodostethia rosea
Ross's Gull (Rhodostethia rosea) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of Europe & Northern Asia.
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The Ross’s Gull (Rhodostethia rosea) is a member of the Laridae family found in Europe & Northern Asia and North America. Adults weigh 187 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Charadriiformes
- Family Laridae Gulls, Terns, Skimmers
- Genus Rhodostethia
- Species rosea
Where it lives
Western, eastern Greenland (rare); Arctic northeastern Siberia, locally from Taimyr Pen. to Kolyma River; Arctic northeastern Canada and formerly Churchill, Manitoba (west-central Hudson Bay, east-central Canada)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 187 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Laridae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Not Evaluated
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Ross’s Gull hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of coastal habitats, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Ross’s Gull is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Ross’s Gull (Rhodostethia rosea) is a member of the Laridae family, within the order Charadriiformes. It occurs naturally across Europe & Northern Asia and North America. Its distribution covers PAL, NA w, e Greenland (rare); Arctic ne Siberia, locally from Taimyr Pen. to Kolyma River; Arctic ne Canada and formerly Churchill, Manitoba (wc Hudson Bay, ec Canada).
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 187 g, with a wing length of about 25.1 cm and a tail of around 10.7 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 1 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Ross’s Gull?
The Ross’s Gull is a large bird that weighs around 187 g.
Where does the Ross’s Gull live?
The Ross’s Gull is found across Europe & Northern Asia and North America with a range covering PAL, NA w, e Greenland (rare); Arctic ne Siberia, locally from Taimyr Pen. to Kolyma River; Arctic ne Canada and formerly Churchill, Manitoba (wc Hudson Bay, ec Canada), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Ross’s Gull belong to?
The Ross’s Gull (Rhodostethia rosea) belongs to the Laridae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Ross’s Gull eat?
The Ross’s Gull hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Ross’s Gull migrate?
The Ross’s Gull is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Ross’s Gull endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Ross’s Gull make?
1 real field recording of the Ross’s Gull — including its alarm call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Ross’s Gull's range?
The Ross’s Gull has a mapped global range of about 1 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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