Ross's Gull

Rhodostethia rosea

Introduction

Sightings of this small Arctic-breeding gull are mostly confined to northern counties of Britain & Ireland, but it has been recorded in all months of the year.

Even now, there is much to be learned about this delicate gull; its breeding grounds were only found in 1905, and its wintering range is still poorly known – but thought to be largely within the Arctic Circle, north of the breeding areas.

Key Stats

Status

Very rare

Weight

185g

Seasonality

<1%

BTO Records

1.1k records

Population and distribution stats for:

No data

No current data

No current data

No data

No current data

-100% contraction

Identification

Curated resources to aid in the identification of Ross's Gull

ID Videos

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This section features BTO training videos headlining this species, or featuring it as a potential confusion species.

Kittiwake & Other Small Gulls

Status and Trends

Population size, trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO and partnership surveys and atlasses with data collected by BTO volunteers.

Conservation Status

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This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

Species of European Conservation Concern

Endangered

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global)

Least Concern

Schedule 1 Licence required (to disturb)*

Birds Directive Annex 1

* A guide only. Check details with the original legislation, especially those marked with an asterisk. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Size

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BOU Category

Source

First Record*

Shetland, 1936

* First documented occurrence. Most species undoubtedly occurred before this. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Change

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Population trends of this scarce species are not routinely monitored.

Distribution

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This species is a rare vagrant and was recorded during Bird Atlas 2007–11 as shown on the map.

Occupied 10-km squares in UK

These figures come from Bird Atlas 2007 and indicate how widespread a species is.

No. occupied in winter

% occupied in winter

0.03%

Bird Atlas distribution maps show where bird species breed or winter in Britain and Ireland. For breeding maps, larger dots indicate higher certainty the species bred in that area.

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

To view and download up-to-date distribution information aggregated from across BTO and partnership surveys and schemes, see our data holdings on the NBN Atlas.

Distribution Change

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This vagrant is too rarely reported to map distribution change.

Change in occupied 10-km squares in the UK

These figures come from Bird Atlas 2007-11 and indicate by how much occupied areas have expanded or contracted over recent decades.

% change in range in winter (1981–84 to 2007–11)

-100 %

Seasonality

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Ross's Gull is a very rare vagrant, with most records in winter, but occasional birds in spring.

Weekly pattern of occurrence

The graph shows when the species is present in the UK, with taller bars indicating a higher likelihood of encountering the species in appropriate regions and habitats.

Phenology graph — Weekly occurrence patterns (shaded cells and reporting rates (vertical bars) based on BirdTrack data. Reporting rates give the likelihood of encountering the species each week.

Movement

Information about Ross's Gull movements and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

Britain & Ireland movement

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View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report

European movements

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EuroBirdPortal uses birdwatcher's records, such as those logged in BirdTrack to map the flows of birds as they arrive and depart Europe. See maps for this species here.

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information for Ross's Gull, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

Survival and Longevity

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Survival is shown as the proportion of birds surviving from one year to the next and is derived from bird ringing data. It can also be used to estimate how long birds typically live.

Classification, names and codes

Taxonomy, names and species codes for Ross's Gull

Classification and Codes

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Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Laridae
Scientific name: Rhodostethia rosea
Authority: W Macgillivray, 1842

BTO 2-letter code: QG
BTO 5-letter code: ROSGU
Euring code number: 6010

Alternate species names

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Catalan: gavina rosada
Czech: racek ružový
Danish: Rosenmåge
Dutch: Ross' Meeuw
Estonian: roosakajakas
Finnish: ruusulokki
French: Mouette rosée

German: Rosenmöwe
Hungarian: rózsás sirály
Icelandic: Rósamáfur
Irish: Faoileán Ross
Italian: Gabbiano di Ross
Latvian: sarta kaija
Lithuanian: rožinis kiras
Norwegian: Rosenmåke

Polish: mewa rózowa
Portuguese: gaivota-rosada
Slovak: cajka ružová
Slovenian: rožnati galeb
Spanish: Gaviota rosada
Swedish: rosenmås
Welsh: Gwylan Ross

More Evidence

More evidence from Conservation Evidence.com

Partners

Birdfacts is based on data collected by volunteers participating in surveys that are organised and funded by BTO, RSPB, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, JNCC and other partners.

BTO

Esmée Fairbairn Foundation

JNCC

RSPB

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Ross&#039;s Gull

Ross's Gull

Introduction

Key Stats

Identification

ID Videos

Kittiwake & Other Small Gulls

Status and Trends

Conservation Status

Population Size

Population Change

Distribution

Occupied 10-km squares in UK

Distribution Change

Change in occupied 10-km squares in the UK

Seasonality

Weekly pattern of occurrence

Movement

Britain & Ireland movement

European movements

Biology

Survival and Longevity

Classification, names and codes

Classification and Codes

Alternate species names

More Evidence

More evidence from Conservation Evidence.com

Partners

Search by common or scientific name

Ross's Gull