Photo: Benjamint444 / GFDL 1.2 (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Shorebirds

Swallow-tailed Gull

Creagrus furcatus

Swallow-tailed Gull (Creagrus furcatus) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of South America.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 18 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Argentina Birds of Colombia Birds of Costa Rica Birds of Ecuador Birds of Mexico Birds of Peru Birds of the United States Birds of California Birds of Washington

By family

Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Argentina Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Colombia Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Costa Rica Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Ecuador Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Mexico Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Peru Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of the United States Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of California Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Washington

See what's near you right now

The Swallow-tailed Gull (Creagrus furcatus) is a member of the Laridae family found in South America. Adults weigh 687 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Charadriiformes
Family Laridae Gulls, Terns, Skimmers
Genus Creagrus
Species furcatus

Where it lives

Galápagos and Malpelo I. (far west of Colombia)

South America

Quick facts

Weight: 687 g
Diet: Aquatic hunters
Family: Laridae
Order: Charadriiformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Least Concern

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Swallow-tailed Gull hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Behaviour

A bird of open sea and coastal waters, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.

Migration

The Swallow-tailed Gull is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

The Swallow-tailed Gull (Creagrus furcatus) belongs to the Laridae family of the order Charadriiformes. It is found across South America. Its distribution covers SA Galápagos and Malpelo I. (far w of Colombia).

It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 687 g, with a wing length of about 40.9 cm and a tail of around 18.4 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 87,000 km².

Songs & calls

Swallow-tailed Gull — Begging call

Recorded by Jacob Guachisaca Salínas Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Swallow-tailed Gull?

The Swallow-tailed Gull is a large bird that weighs around 687 g.

Where does the Swallow-tailed Gull live?

The Swallow-tailed Gull is found across South America with a range covering SA Galápagos and Malpelo I. (far w of Colombia), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the Swallow-tailed Gull belong to?

The Swallow-tailed Gull (Creagrus furcatus) belongs to the Laridae family, in the order Charadriiformes.

What does the Swallow-tailed Gull eat?

The Swallow-tailed Gull hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Does the Swallow-tailed Gull migrate?

The Swallow-tailed Gull is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

Is the Swallow-tailed 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 Swallow-tailed Gull make?

1 real field recording of the Swallow-tailed Gull — including its begging call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Swallow-tailed Gull's range?

The Swallow-tailed Gull has a mapped global range of about 87,000 km².