שחף אלגנטי בעל כנפיים ארוכות ומקור ארוך. לבוגרים גב שחור ממש, כמעט ללא ניגוד לקצות הכנפיים. בחורף הראש בעל דגם פיספוס נרחב למדי. הצעירים חומים כהים, מפוספסים ומנומרים בצפיפות עם ראש בהיר מלבד דגם סביב עין. נודד וחורף בעיקר לאורך חוף הים. לעתים קרובות נמצא יחד עם שחפים אחרים.
Exotic species flags differentiate locally introduced species from native species.
מתאזרח: Exotic population is self-sustaining, breeding in the wild, persisting for many years, and not maintained through ongoing releases (including vagrants from Naturalized populations). These count in official eBird totals and, where applicable, have been accepted by regional bird records committee(s).
ארעי: Either: 1) member of exotic population that is breeding in the wild, self-propagating, and has persisted for multiple years, but not yet Naturalized; 2) rarity of uncertain provenance, with natural vagrancy or captive provenance both considered plausible. When applicable, eBird generally defers to bird records committees for records formally considered to be of "uncertain provenance". Provisional species count in official eBird totals.
פליט שבי: Exotic species known or suspected to be escaped or released, including those that have bred but don't yet fulfill the criteria for Provisional. Escapee exotics do not count in official eBird totals.