Slaty-backed Gull

Larus schistisagus

This Slaty-backed Gull was in St. John’s during the winter of 2010-2011, marking the 15th record of a species once thought very unlikely to show up here.
– Photo: Jared Clarke (December 5, 2010)

Status: Rare (Less than Annual)

Origins: Occurs primarily in northeast Asia (Japan, Korea) and western Alaska. It is a rare visitor to other parts of North America, but records have been increasing dramatically over the past number of years.

Record Details: First recorded in January 2006, but currently there have been twenty-two records!! All but two records come from St. John’s, with others in Lewisporte (December 2007 – January 2008) and Corner Brook (December 2008).

  1. St. John’s; Jan 28 2006 – Feb 12 2006 (Adult)
  2. St. John’s; Mar 19 – Apr 5 2006 (3rd winter)
  3. St. John’s; Apr 23 – May 7 2006 (Adult)
  4. St. John’s; Nov 26 2006 – Mar 25 2007 (Adult) *
  5. St. John’s; Dec 31 2006 (Adult)
  6. St. John’s; Jan 22 – Feb 26 2007 (Adult)
  7. Lewisporte; Dec 24 2007 – Jan 2 2008 (Adult)
  8. St. John’s; Jan 8  – Mar 15 2008 (Adult) *
  9. St. John’s; Jan 12 – 20 2008 (Adult)
  10. Corner Brook; Dec 1-2 2008 (Adult)
  11. St. John’s; Dec 28 2008 – Feb 21 2009 (Adult) *
  12. St. John’s; Feb 3 – March 25 2009 (Adult)
  13. St. John’s; Oct 24-27 2009 (Adult)
  14. St. John’s; Jan 14 – Mar 6 2010 (Adult)
  15. St. John’s; Nov 3 2010 – Mar 27 2011 (Adult)
  16. St. John’s; Jan 1 – 25 2012 (Adult)
  17. St. John’s; Nov 23 2016 (Adult)
  18. St. John’s; March 17-25 2017 (Adult)
  19. St. John’s; Jan 17 – Feb 6 2019 (Adult)
  20. St. John’s; Feb 5 – 27, 2020 (Adult)
  21. St. John’s; Feb 12-25, 2021 (Adult)
  22. St. John’s; Feb 28 – Mar 18, 2023 (Sub-adult)

* Considered to be same bird that returned for at least three winters.

A dark 2nd winter individual seen & photographed at the landfill in St. John’s on February 8, 2008 was met with mixed opinions among experts, but generally assumed to be a hybrid involving Slaty-backed Gull (and possibly a Eurasian Herring or Veg Gull?).

There are also three records from Forteau, Labrador on April 11, 2016; November 4, 2017; and February 18, 2021.

* NOTE – This website is not an official account and “may” contain incorrect information and/or details of unconfirmed records. *

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