Laridae - Movements, dispersions and migrations

Many species such as the Black-legged Kittiwake, Sabine’s, Laughing, Black-headed and Brown-headed Gulls migrate to lower latitudes. Migrations usually occur at night, in the early morning or in the late afternoon.

Ivory Gull - Pagophila eburnea

However, some Arctic species such as Ivory, Iceland and Glaucous Gulls perform only some dispersion at the edge of the ice.

Iceland Gull - Larus glaucoides

Glaucous-winged Gull

Larus glaucescens

Some gulls are long-distance migrants, and fly many thousands of kilometres from Arctic to South America, Africa and Southern Asia.

Red-legged Kittiwake

Rissa brevirostris

Usually, small gulls migrate larger distances than larger species. They travel in large, dense flocks of several thousands which remain intact during the winter on the wintering areas.

Black-headed Gull - Chroicocephalus ridibundus

Great Black-backed Gull - Larus marinus

Terns have the same pattern of movements. Most of them are migratory, whereas some tropical species are nomadic after breeding season and during winter.

Caspian Tern - Hydroprogne caspia

Elegant Tern - Thalasseus elegant

On the other hand, the Sooty Tern and the Arctic Tern are absent for several months, remaining for the minimum time necessary to mate, nest and fledge their young.

Sooty Tern - Onychoprion fuscatus

Arctic Tern - Sterna paradisaea

Other species are long-distance migrants, travelling from Arctic to the Southern Hemisphere. The Arctic Tern has the longest transequatorial migration, travelling to the Antarctic from its Arctic breeding grounds that explain the short time spent at colonies!

Arctic Tern

Sterna paradisaea

Some pelagic species such as the Grey Noddy remain near the colonies all year round.
Noddies’ movements are poorly known, but these species seem to be non migratory, only performing some dispersions to sea after breeding.

Brown Noddy

Anous stolidus

Skimmers migrate in flocks with young and adults. They travel southwards to warmer regions for wintering, or perform some dispersion.
The Black Skimmer from NE North America migrates to Florida and Gulf coasts.

Black Skimmer

Rynchops niger

The African Skimmer migrates up and down large rivers and inland lakes.

African Skimmer

Rynchops flavirostris

The Indian Skimmer moves upriver during low-water season, and down during the floods’ period.

All these species travel more or less long distances. They usually have fast and agile flight, thanks to the narrow, long and pointed wings giving them good manoeuvrability in the air.
These movements, although better known today, always keep something mysterious for humans…

Laughing Gull - Leucophaeus atricilla