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Difference between revisions of "Slaty-backed Gull" - BirdForum Opus

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;Larus schistisagus
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[[Image:Slaty-backed_Gull.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|rb_stern|rb stern}}<br />Glace Bay, [[Nova Scotia]], [[Canada]], January 2004]]
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[[Image:Slaty-backed_Gull.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by rb stern]]
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;[[:Category:Larus|Larus]] schistisagus
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'''Alternative Names: Kamchatka Gull, Pacific Gull.'''
 
==Identification==
 
==Identification==
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shot in Nova Scotia
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L. 27 inches (68.5 cm)
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====Breeding Adult====
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The Slaty-backed Gull (Larus schistisagus), also known as the Kamchatka Gull, is a large white-headed gull that breeds on the western coast of Alaska but travels widely during nonbreeding seasons. Claims have been made as to its (sometimes occasional) presence throughout North America as well as the eastern coast of Asia. It is similar in appearance to the Western Gull and the Glaucous-winged Gull. Another alternate name is Pacific Gull, though this also applies to a southern hemisphere species, Larus pacificus.
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*White head, belly, and tail
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*Dark, slaty-gray back and wings
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The Slaty-backed Gull is a very large gull at 27 inches (68.5 centimeters) long. It has a white head, belly, and tail with a dark slaty-gray back and wings with a broad white trailing edge. The wings and back are slightly darker than those of the Western Gull. The underside of the wings features a "string of pearls" pattern along their edges; these can be seen from below when the bird is in flight. Its eyes are yellow. The legs are pink and short when compared with those of similar-looking gulls, and the body appears more stout. The bill is yellow with orange-red subterminal spot. Immature gulls' plumage is brown, similar to the that of the Great Black-backed Gull, but paler.
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**Broad white trailing edge
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[[Image:IMG 4100.jpg|thumb|350px|right|1st Calendar Year<br />Photo by {{user|Ayuwat+J|Ayuwat J}}<br />Beppu, Oita, Japan]]
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Like other gulls, the Slaty-backed Gull is both a forager and a scavenger
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*Underside of wings features a "string of pearls" along the edges
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**Can be seen from below when the bird is in flight
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*Yellow eyes
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*Pink legs (appear shorter than similar gulls)
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*Body appears stouter than similar gulls
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*Yellow bill with orange-red subterminal band
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====Immature====
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Brown
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===Similar Species===
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The wings and back are slightly darker than those of the [[Western Gull]].<br/>
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Immature is similar to [[Great Black-backed Gull]], but paler.
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==Distribution==
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It is a common coastal breeding species in northeastern [[Asia]], wintering southward to [[Japan]], [[Korea]] and [[China]].  Frequently wanders to the western [[Alaska]] shorelines. Now annual in northeastern North America with records in many states.
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[[Image:Slaty-backed Gull1.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by {{user|DaninJapan|DaninJapan}}<br />Akuna, Kagoshima, [[Japan]], January 2009]]
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==Taxonomy==
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This is a [[Dictionary_M-O#M|monotypic]] species<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>.
  
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==Habitat==
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Coastal areas.
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==Behaviour==
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====Diet====
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Forager and a scavenger.
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==References==
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#{{Ref-Clements6thDec10}}#Avianweb
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{{ref}}
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==
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*[http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showgallery.php?mcats=all&what=allfields&si=Slaty-backed+Gull View more images of Slaty-backed Gull in the gallery]
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{{GSearch|Larus+schistisagus}}
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[[Category:Birds]]
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*[http://www.orientalbirdimages.org/birdimages.php?action=birdspecies&Bird_ID=944&Bird_Image_ID=1578&Bird_Family_ID=104 View more images of this species on Orientalbirdimages]
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[[Category:Birds]][[Category:Larus]]

Revision as of 16:28, 6 July 2014

Photo by rb stern
Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, Canada, January 2004
Larus schistisagus

Alternative Names: Kamchatka Gull, Pacific Gull.

Identification

L. 27 inches (68.5 cm)

Breeding Adult

  • White head, belly, and tail
  • Dark, slaty-gray back and wings
    • Broad white trailing edge
1st Calendar Year
Photo by Ayuwat J
Beppu, Oita, Japan
  • Underside of wings features a "string of pearls" along the edges
    • Can be seen from below when the bird is in flight
  • Yellow eyes
  • Pink legs (appear shorter than similar gulls)
  • Body appears stouter than similar gulls
  • Yellow bill with orange-red subterminal band

Immature

Brown

Similar Species

The wings and back are slightly darker than those of the Western Gull.
Immature is similar to Great Black-backed Gull, but paler.

Distribution

It is a common coastal breeding species in northeastern Asia, wintering southward to Japan, Korea and China. Frequently wanders to the western Alaska shorelines. Now annual in northeastern North America with records in many states.

Photo by DaninJapan
Akuna, Kagoshima, Japan, January 2009

Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species[1].

Habitat

Coastal areas.

Behaviour

Diet

Forager and a scavenger.

References

  1. Clements, JF. 2010. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2010. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/Clements%206.5.xls/view
  2. Avianweb

Recommended Citation

External Links

Retrieved from ‘https://www.birdforum.net/wiki/index.php?title=Slaty-backed_Gull&oldid=201957’
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