Rare Arctic Bird ‘Sabine’s Gull’ Spotted At Gujarat’s Nalsarovar: Last Seen In India In Kerala In 2013
Ahmedabad: A rare Arctic bird, Sabine’s Gull, has been spotted at Ahmedabad’s Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary, a renowned Ramsar site in Gujarat. The sighting occurred on the morning of May 30, 2025, around 9 AM, when forest department officials observed the gull gracefully gliding over the open wetlands.
This rare sighting marks a proud and thrilling moment for Gujarat’s birding community. According to Dr. Sakira Begum, Deputy Conservator of Forests for the Anand Wildlife Division, the appearance of a Sabine’s Gull in the Indian subcontinent is an exceptionally rare event. The global birding database eBird confirms that such sightings are extremely uncommon in India, with the last recorded occurrence in Kerala back in 2013.
The bird was spotted in the open waters of the sanctuary and was seen by both forest officials and visiting birdwatchers. The sighting was documented by guide Gani Sama, who captured the rare moment on camera.
The Sabine’s Gull is a small, elegant seabird known for its striking appearance. In its breeding plumage, it is easily recognized by its sharp black hood, clean grey back, white nape, and most distinctively, its tri-colored wings, marked with black, white, and grey. It is also one of only two gull species with a black bill tipped with yellow and a slightly notched tail.
Typically, this species breeds in the high Arctic regions of North America, Greenland, and Siberia, nesting near wet tundra zones. For winter, the gull embarks on a long-distance migration to tropical upwelling zones, nutrient-rich marine areas off the western coasts of South America and Africa. Notably, India does not lie along its usual migratory path, making its presence in Gujarat both unexpected and extraordinary.
Experts believe the bird may have veered off course, possibly due to navigational anomalies. Nevertheless, such rare occurrences offer fascinating insights for ornithologists and migratory bird researchers alike.