Scientific name: Larus sabini
The wings are long, thin and pointed with a span of between 81 to 87 cm (32–34 in). The bill, which is black with a yellow tip, is around 2.5 cm (0.98 in) long.
This species is easy to identify through its striking wing pattern. The adult has a pale grey back and wing coverts, black primary flight feathers and white secondaries. The white tail is forked. The male's hood darkens during breeding season. Young birds have a similar tricoloured wing pattern, but the grey is replaced by brown, and the tail has a black terminal band. Juveniles take two years to attain full adult plumage. They have a very high-pitched and squeaking call.
Within southern Africa it is common offshore of Namibia and western South Africa, while more scarce along the southern coast up to KwaZulu-Natal. It spends most of its time out to sea on the continental shelf, and is rarely seen ashore.
