The small and graceful Sabine’s Gull breeds across much of the Canadian Arctic, but is most abundant in the eastern Arctic. The species is unique in that it migrates across the equator to winter in two different oceans: off the coast of Peru in the Pacific, and off the coasts of South Africa and Namibia in the Atlantic. Individual birds appear to be highly faithful to their wintering sites, returning to the same area each year (Davis et al. 2016). Repeated surveys of Nunavut’s Foxe Basin, a stronghold of the population, have confirmed that the species remains abundant there. However, data are insufficient for an assessment of range-wide trends in population abundance. The species’ population status in Canada relative to about 1970 remains unknown.
The species appears to be less abundant than once believed in the Western Canadian Arctic, and it is unclear whether this reflects historic declines or incorrect information about their former abundance (Day et al. 2001). An improved understanding of the Canadian population's abundance and distribution is needed in order to better assess the threats these birds face across their range.
Environment and Climate Change Canada and partners have developed Bird Conservation Region Strategies in each of Canada’s Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs). In these strategies, selected species are identified as priorities for one or more of the following reasons:
Select any of the sub-regions below to view the BCR strategy for additional details.
