Swallow-tailed Gull

Creagrus furcatus · Nocturnal species of seabird
Order
Charadriiformes
Codes
swtgul1, STGU

About the Swallow-tailed Gull

The swallow-tailed gull is an equatorial seabird in the gull family, Laridae. It is the only species in the genus Creagrus, which derives from the Latin Creagra and the Greek kreourgos which means butcher, also from kreas, meat; according to Jobling it would mean "hook for meat" referring to the hooked bill of this species. It was first described by French naturalist and surgeon Adolphe-Simon Neboux in 1846. Its scientific name is originally derived from the Greek word for gull, "Glaros" and via Latin Larus, "gull" and furca "two-tined fork". It spends most of its life flying and hunting over the open ocean. The main breeding location is in the Galápagos Islands, particularly the rocky shores and cliffs of Hood, Tower and Wolf Islands, with lower numbers on most of the other islands. It is more common on the eastern islands where the water is warmer.

Source: Wikipedia

Taxonomy & Classification

KingdomAnimalia
PhylumChordata
ClassAves
OrderCharadriiformes
FamilyGulls, Terns, and Skimmers (Laridae)
SpeciesCreagrus furcatus
Species Codesswtgul1, STGU

Frequently Asked Questions

What family does the Swallow-tailed Gull belong to?

The Swallow-tailed Gull (Creagrus furcatus) belongs to the Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers family (Laridae), in the order Charadriiformes.

How can I identify the Swallow-tailed Gull?

The swallow-tailed gull is an equatorial seabird in the gull family, Laridae. It is the only species in the genus Creagrus, which derives from the Latin Creagra and the Greek kreourgos which means butcher, also from kreas, meat; according to Jobling it would mean \"hook for meat\" referring to the hoo...

Where can I report a Swallow-tailed Gull sighting?

You can log sightings of Swallow-tailed Gull on eBird (ebird.org) using species code swtgul1, or on iNaturalist.