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Heuglin's gull

Heuglin's gull, or the Siberian gull (Larus fuscus heuglini), is a seabird in the genus Larus. It is sometimes considered as a separate species (Larus heuglini) but is usually treated as a subspecies of the lesser black-backed gull. Birds in the eastern part of Heuglin's gull's range are often paler grey above and sometimes considered to be a separate subspecies Larus fuscus taimyrensis (Taimyr gull). It is now thought that they are a result of hybridisation between Heuglin's gulls and Vega gulls.

Distribution and habitat

Heuglin's gulls breed in the tundra of northern Russia from the Kola Peninsula east to the Taymyr Peninsula. They are regularly reported from Finland and may breed there. They migrate south to winter in Southwest Asia, the Indian subcontinent, East Asia, and East Africa. Small numbers are seen in the eastern Mediterranean, and also Southeast Asia, and it has been recorded in South Africa. It may occur as a vagrant in Western Europe.

Description

They are large gulls with a rounded head, strong bill and long legs and wings. Length is from , wingspan is from and body mass is from . Among standard measurements, the wing chord is , the bill is and the tarsus is . The back and wings are dark grey, variable in shade but often similar to the slightly smaller subspecies L. f. graellsii of the lesser black-backed gull. In winter the head is only lightly streaked with brown but there is heavier streaking on the hindneck. The legs are usually yellow but can be pink.

Growth

Moulting takes place later than in most of their relatives so birds still have unstreaked heads and worn primaries in September and October. The primary feathers may not be fully grown until February or March when the head is still streaked.

Diet

They feed mainly on molluscs, worms, and crustaceans.

Gallery

References

  • Paul Doherty & Bill Oddie (2001) Gulls: A Video Guide to the Gulls of Europe, Asia & North America. Videocassette. Bird Images.
  • Craig Robson (2002) A Field Guide to the Birds of South-East Asia. New Holland, London.
  • Adrian Skerrett, Ian Bullock & Tony Disley (2001), Birds of Seychelles, Christopher Helm, London.

External links