Skimmers, Noddies, Terns, and Gulls
Ross’s Gull
Rhodostethia rosea
- Family
- Skimmers, Noddies, Terns, and Gulls (Laridae)
- Order
- Charadriiformes
Overview
Ross's gull (Rhodostethia rosea) is a small gull, the only species in its genus, although it has been suggested the genus should be merged with the closely related Hydrocoloeus, which otherwise only includes the little gull.
This bird is named after the British explorer James Clark Ross. Its breeding grounds were first discovered in 1905 by Sergei Aleksandrovich Buturlin near the village of Pokhodsk in northeastern Yakutia, while visiting the area as a judge. The genus name Rhodostethia is from Ancient Greek rhodon, "rose", and stethos, "breast".
Summary from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Range and habitat
Breeds western and eastern Greenland (rare), Arctic northeastern Siberia, locally from Taimyr Peninsula to Kolyma River, Arctic northeastern Canada and formerly Churchill, Manitoba (west-central Hudson Bay, east-central Canada); winters Arctic Ocean, in Beaufort (north of Alaska) and Labrador seas (at least).
Range description: AviList Global Avian Checklist.
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia: Ross's gull
- eBird: sightings, maps and photos
- xeno-canto: sound recordings
- Birds of the World: full species account (subscription)
- BirdLife DataZone: status and threats
- IUCN Red List (threat status)
- AviList global checklist (taxonomy)
Last updated September 29, 2026.
