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Larus relictus

Photo by alibenn
Location: Beidaihe, China

[edit] Identification

44 to 45 cm. Non-breeding adults - dark ear coverts and hind crown, white-tipped wings, black subterminal markings on outer primaries, red legs and bill. Breeding birds have black hoods, grey-brown foreheads, and broad, white, half-moon colouring behind, below, and above their eyes, orange legs and scarlet bills.

[edit] Distribution

Kazakhstan, Russia, Mongolia, and China.

[edit] Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species which is sometimes places in genus Ichthyaetus. The Relict Gull has in the past been placed as a subspecies in Mediterranean Gull.

[edit] Habitat

Islands in saltwater lakes and estuarine mud and sandflats.

[edit] Status

Classified as Vulnerable in the 2008 IUCN Red List.¹

[edit] Behaviour

[edit] References

1. BirdLife International (2008) Species factsheet: Larus relictus. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 12/9/2008.

[edit] External Links

• View more images of this species on Orientalbirdimages