From Opus

Photo by IanF
Photo taken: Cala Bona, Mallorca

Ichthyaetus audouinii

Larus audouinii

[edit] Identification

44-52cm

• Mainly white head and body
• Grey wings
• Black tail
• Short stubby dark red bill with black and yellow tip
• Wings: Black wedge on outer primaries with white tip
• Grey-green legs
• Dark eye
  

Juveniles have a brown head that fades to white over four years

Immature
Photo by john-henry
Algarve, Portugal, November 2007

[edit] Similar Species

Herring Gull

[edit] Distribution

The Mediterranean area, wintering to Senegal.

Rare, but populations appear to be increasing.^[6]

[edit] Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species which is sometimes placed in genus Larus.^[1]

[edit] Habitat

Breeds in sandy areas with low brush. Rocky sea coasts, saline marshes and reedbeds, saltpans and lakes. Pelagic.

[edit] Behaviour

An elegant gull

Photo by nsclayton
Sa Coma, Mallorca, July 2007

[edit] Breeding

Two to three eggs are laid on a ground nest and are incubated for 21 days.

[edit] Diet

The diet consists mostly of fish snatched from the surface, or by diving; they rarely scavenge.

[edit] References

1. Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
2. Avibase
3. ArKive
4. Collins Field Guide 5th Edition
5. Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6
6. BF Member observations

[edit] External Links