This is a common to abundant, winter resident that can be found regularly in the spring and fall, while a few linger into the summer in some years. In most years, the bulk of wintering birds have left the Pribilofs by May 25th with smaller numbers continuing until June 10th and only a few lingering […]
Category: Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers (Laridae)
Aleutian Tern
This species has been found very sparingly on its passage between Alaska and its wintering grounds in the south Pacific. The majority of records come from the springtime where they are spread over a large period of time though the second half of May, which is likely the most productive time to locate this species […]
White-winged Tern
The single spring record from late May to early June is one of few from the entire state and fits well with the pattern of occurrence of other tern species in the Pribilofs, as well as the other records of this species from Alaska. […]
Common Tern
A nearly annual spring migrant, which is best found in late spring from June 1st-15th, though it can be found beginning in mid-May and occurs occasionally into late June and July. There have been only three fall records of this species with two in mid-August, the typical migration period for other tern species, and one […]
Arctic Tern
A regular, albeit uncommon, spring migrant that is best looked for from May 20th-June 10th with a peak from May 15th-25th at that season. However, this species is found more regularly later in the year. While it can be seen on occasion during late spring and early summer, the peak time of occurrence is from […]
Black-legged Kittiwake
This species is a permanent resident of the islands and their associated waters and is potentially the most ubiquitous bird species in the Pribilofs outside the winter season. It breeds on all of the Pribilof Islands with the largest numbers on St. Paul and St. George Islands. The first birds return to the islands’ cliffs […]
Red-legged Kittiwake
A common, or abundant, species depending on location and timing in the Pribilofs, this species breeds in very large numbers on St. George Island, with smaller numbers on St. Paul and Otter Islands. Much like the Black-legged Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla), this species typically arrives at the islands each year from mid-March to mid-April depending on […]
Ivory Gull
This species is a bird of the winter pack ice in the vicinity of the Pribilofs with few local records owing to the general lack of coverage during that season. Most records are from late winter (January-March) when the winter sea ice typically reaches the farthest south and can be present around the islands. There […]
Sabine’s Gull
This gull is considered uncommon from spring through fall, with arrivals possible at almost any time from May to October. It is perhaps most likely between May 20th and June 1st during the spring though its pattern of occurrence is not well defined. Occasional individuals are seen through June into the summer with regular records […]
Bonaparte’s Gull
The handful of Pribilof records for this species leave little pattern, though early June appears to be the best to look for this species during the spring Summer records in early August are likely early moving adults, and the fall records are of juvenile birds as they move south out of Alaska for the winter. […]