What specific marking is present on the tail of juvenile Xema sabini?
Answer
White with a distinct black terminal band
Juvenile Sabine's Gulls display a key difference in tail morphology compared to adults. While the adult tail is white and slightly forked, the juvenile tail is white but features a distinct black terminal band across the feathers. This black band is lost as the bird matures. Furthermore, juvenile birds can retain a brownish and somewhat scaly appearance on their backs during their first autumn, contrasting with the pale gray mantle of the adult.
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