From Opus

Creagrus furcatus

Photo by Juninho

Identification

Sexes are alike. Adult in breeding plumage has dark, grey head and neck, red orbital ring, black bill tipped with pale grey. Grey mantle and large white wing patches. The legs are pink to red in colour. Adult non-breeding looses the dark head. Juvenile is white and mottled with brown, dark eye patch and orbital ring. No white on bill and paler legs. Unique clicking sounds, possibly developing for echo location, some typical gull-like cries.

Distribution

Galapagos Islands and the coasts of Ecuador and Peru.

Taxonomy

Habitat

Open seas.

Behaviour

The only nocturnal gull, and pelagic.

Breeds all year round and lays single egg clutches and raises a single chick brood. Performs mutual preening and head tossing behaviour.

Feeds almost entirely on squid and clupeoid fish.

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