(more pictures added) |
Nutcracker (talk | contribs) (more details) |
||
| (7 intermediate revisions by 4 users not shown) | |||
| Line 3: | Line 3: | ||
'''Includes Steppe Gull''' | '''Includes Steppe Gull''' | ||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| − | A four-year gull. Slenderer and with a smaller head than [[Herring Gull]]. Has a slender, parallel-edged bill and | + | A four-year gull. Slenderer and with a smaller head than [[Herring Gull]]. Has a slender, parallel-edged bill and small eyes sitting well forward in head. The neck is long, the breast well protruding and the hindparts slender. Often shows a pronounced hanging-belly behind the long, thin legs. |
[[Image:P3020029m.jpg|thumb|350px|right|First-year<br />Photo by {{user|Cristian+Mihai|Cristian Mihai}}<br />Bucharest, [[Romania]], March 2010]] | [[Image:P3020029m.jpg|thumb|350px|right|First-year<br />Photo by {{user|Cristian+Mihai|Cristian Mihai}}<br />Bucharest, [[Romania]], March 2010]] | ||
====Adult==== | ====Adult==== | ||
Has a similar wing pattern to [[Herring Gull]]: White tip to P10, but white tongues on primaries long and often creating a streaked wing-tip. P5 with extensive black markings. The head is white, sometimes with some faint brown hindneck-streaks in autumn. The eye is often darkish-looking, the bill often greenish-tinged. The legs are grey with fleshy to yellow tinge. | Has a similar wing pattern to [[Herring Gull]]: White tip to P10, but white tongues on primaries long and often creating a streaked wing-tip. P5 with extensive black markings. The head is white, sometimes with some faint brown hindneck-streaks in autumn. The eye is often darkish-looking, the bill often greenish-tinged. The legs are grey with fleshy to yellow tinge. | ||
| − | |||
====Third-year==== | ====Third-year==== | ||
Like adult but with generally fuller black on wing-tip and often dark markings on primary coverts, tail and bill. | Like adult but with generally fuller black on wing-tip and often dark markings on primary coverts, tail and bill. | ||
====Second-year==== | ====Second-year==== | ||
| + | [[Image:PB014681m.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Adult in flight<br />Photo by {{user|Cristian+Mihai|Cristian Mihai}}<br />Bucharest, [[Romania]], November 2009]] | ||
Grey upperparts contrast with browner lesser and greater coverts, has a solid dark wing-tip (sometimes with white mirror on P10) and whitish head, underbody and underwing. May show traces of a dark tail-bar. | Grey upperparts contrast with browner lesser and greater coverts, has a solid dark wing-tip (sometimes with white mirror on P10) and whitish head, underbody and underwing. May show traces of a dark tail-bar. | ||
====First-year==== | ====First-year==== | ||
| − | White on head and body reduced to spots on hindneck, some faint spots on breast-sides, flangs and edges of undertail-coverts. Bill and eye black. Upperwing brown with solid dark bars across bases of secondaries and greater coverts (like [[Lesser Black-backed Gull]]. Tertials dark with white tips. Shows a pale wedge on lower back, reaching the white tail-base which contrasts with the solid blackish tail-bar. Underwing often mainly white. | + | White on head and body reduced to spots on hindneck, some faint spots on breast-sides, flangs and edges of undertail-coverts. Bill and eye black. Upperwing brown with solid dark bars across bases of secondaries and greater coverts (like [[Lesser Black-backed Gull]]). Tertials dark with white tips. Shows a pale wedge on lower back, reaching the white tail-base which contrasts with the solid blackish tail-bar. Underwing often mainly white. |
====Similar species==== | ====Similar species==== | ||
May be confused with [[Yellow-legged Gull]], [[Herring Gull]], [[Lesser Black-backed Gull]] and other big gulls. | May be confused with [[Yellow-legged Gull]], [[Herring Gull]], [[Lesser Black-backed Gull]] and other big gulls. | ||
| + | |||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
| − | Breeds in central [[Asia]] and north of the Black | + | Breeds in central [[Asia]] and north of the Black Sea. Recent breeding range expansion west into central [[Europe]], mainly along major rivers, west to southern [[Poland]]. Winters to [[Europe]], northwest [[Africa]] and south [[Asia]]. |
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
| − | Three subspecies | + | [[Image:DSCN4018 2 .JPG|thumb|350px|right|'''Steppe Gull'''<br />Photo by {{user|aloktewari|Alok Tewari}}<br />Jamnagar, Gujrat, [[India]], January 2016]] |
| − | * ''L. c. cachinnans'' breeding from | + | This species is sometimes considered conspecific with [[Yellow-legged Gull]], with both also formerly included as subspecies within a wider concept of [[Herring Gull]]. Its westwards range expansion has brought it into contact with Herring Gulls in central and northern [[Poland]], with many records of hybrid pairs in this area<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup><sup>[[#References|[2]]]</sup>. |
| − | * ''L. c. barabensis'' breeds in the steppes of central [[Asia]], winters in southwest Asia and [[India]] - '''Steppe Gull''' (sometimes regarded as full species) | + | |
| − | * ''L. c. mongolicus'' from the Altai and Lake Baikal to [[Mongolia]], winters in south [[ | + | ====Subspecies==== |
| − | + | Three subspecies are recognised<sup>[[#References|[3]]]</sup>: | |
| + | * ''L. c. cachinnans'' breeding from [[Poland]] east to [[Kazakhstan]], spreads to [[Europe]] (northwest to [[England]] in small numbers), northeast [[Africa]] and southwest [[Asia]] in winter | ||
| + | * ''L. c. barabensis'' breeds in the steppes of central [[Asia]], winters in southwest Asia and western [[India]] - '''Steppe Gull''' (sometimes regarded as full species) | ||
| + | * ''L. c. mongolicus'' from the Altai and Lake Baikal to [[Mongolia]], winters in eastern [[Asia]] from [[Japan]] south through eastern and southern [[China]] to northernmost [[Vietnam]] - '''Mongolian Gull''' (sometimes regarded as full species) | ||
| + | |||
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
| − | Breeds on sandy dunes, islands, steppe lakes and along rivers.<br /> | + | Breeds on sandy dunes, islands, steppe lakes and along rivers. Recently colonising post-industrial wetlands such as old sand and gravel quarry lakes in eastern and central Europe.<br /> |
Outside breeding season at coasts, in harbours, on lakes or on rubbish dumps. | Outside breeding season at coasts, in harbours, on lakes or on rubbish dumps. | ||
==Behaviour== | ==Behaviour== | ||
They are scavengers and hunt suitable small prey in fields or on the coast, or rob plovers or lapwings of their catches. | They are scavengers and hunt suitable small prey in fields or on the coast, or rob plovers or lapwings of their catches. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| − | + | #Gibbins, C, Small, B. J., & Sweeney, J. (2010). Identification of Caspian Gull, part I. ''British Birds'' 103: 142-183. | |
| − | #{{Ref- | + | #Gibbins, C, Neubauer, G., & Small, B. J. (2011). Identification of Caspian Gull, part II. ''British Birds'' 104: 702-742. |
| + | #{{Ref-Clements6thAug11}}#{{Ref-HM03Cor7}}#{{Ref-GillWright08}}#{{Ref-SibleyMonroe96}}#Malling Olsen K and H Larsson. 2003. Gulls of Europe, Asia and North America. London: Christoper Helm. ISBN 0 7136 7087 8 | ||
{{ref}} | {{ref}} | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
| − | [http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=9361 ID discussion] on how to distinguish Caspian (''L. cachinnans'') and Yellow-legged Gull (''L. michahellis'' and ''L. | + | [http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=9361 ID discussion] on how to distinguish Caspian (''L. cachinnans'') and Yellow-legged Gull (''L. michahellis'' and ''L. m. atlantis'') |
{{GSearch|Larus+cachinnans}} | {{GSearch|Larus+cachinnans}} | ||
| − | + | <br /> | |
| − | [[Category:Birds]][[Category:Larus]] | + | {{Video|Caspian_Gull}} |
| + | <br /> | ||
| + | {{Video|Steppe_Gull Use "Steppe Gull" to}} | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Category:Birds]][[Category:Larus]] [[Category:Videos]] | ||
Revision as of 15:54, 14 December 2017
- Larus cachinnans
Includes Steppe Gull
Identification
A four-year gull. Slenderer and with a smaller head than Herring Gull. Has a slender, parallel-edged bill and small eyes sitting well forward in head. The neck is long, the breast well protruding and the hindparts slender. Often shows a pronounced hanging-belly behind the long, thin legs.
Adult
Has a similar wing pattern to Herring Gull: White tip to P10, but white tongues on primaries long and often creating a streaked wing-tip. P5 with extensive black markings. The head is white, sometimes with some faint brown hindneck-streaks in autumn. The eye is often darkish-looking, the bill often greenish-tinged. The legs are grey with fleshy to yellow tinge.
Third-year
Like adult but with generally fuller black on wing-tip and often dark markings on primary coverts, tail and bill.
Second-year
Grey upperparts contrast with browner lesser and greater coverts, has a solid dark wing-tip (sometimes with white mirror on P10) and whitish head, underbody and underwing. May show traces of a dark tail-bar.
First-year
White on head and body reduced to spots on hindneck, some faint spots on breast-sides, flangs and edges of undertail-coverts. Bill and eye black. Upperwing brown with solid dark bars across bases of secondaries and greater coverts (like Lesser Black-backed Gull). Tertials dark with white tips. Shows a pale wedge on lower back, reaching the white tail-base which contrasts with the solid blackish tail-bar. Underwing often mainly white.
Similar species
May be confused with Yellow-legged Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull and other big gulls.
Distribution
Breeds in central Asia and north of the Black Sea. Recent breeding range expansion west into central Europe, mainly along major rivers, west to southern Poland. Winters to Europe, northwest Africa and south Asia.
Taxonomy
This species is sometimes considered conspecific with Yellow-legged Gull, with both also formerly included as subspecies within a wider concept of Herring Gull. Its westwards range expansion has brought it into contact with Herring Gulls in central and northern Poland, with many records of hybrid pairs in this area[1][2].
Subspecies
Three subspecies are recognised[3]:
- L. c. cachinnans breeding from Poland east to Kazakhstan, spreads to Europe (northwest to England in small numbers), northeast Africa and southwest Asia in winter
- L. c. barabensis breeds in the steppes of central Asia, winters in southwest Asia and western India - Steppe Gull (sometimes regarded as full species)
- L. c. mongolicus from the Altai and Lake Baikal to Mongolia, winters in eastern Asia from Japan south through eastern and southern China to northernmost Vietnam - Mongolian Gull (sometimes regarded as full species)
Habitat
Breeds on sandy dunes, islands, steppe lakes and along rivers. Recently colonising post-industrial wetlands such as old sand and gravel quarry lakes in eastern and central Europe.
Outside breeding season at coasts, in harbours, on lakes or on rubbish dumps.
Behaviour
They are scavengers and hunt suitable small prey in fields or on the coast, or rob plovers or lapwings of their catches.
References
- Gibbins, C, Small, B. J., & Sweeney, J. (2010). Identification of Caspian Gull, part I. British Birds 103: 142-183.
- Gibbins, C, Neubauer, G., & Small, B. J. (2011). Identification of Caspian Gull, part II. British Birds 104: 702-742.
- Clements, JF. 2011. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to August 2011. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
- Dickinson, EC, ed. 2003. The Howard and Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World. 3rd ed., with updates to December 2007 (Corrigenda 7). Princeton: Princeton Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0691117010
- Gill, F and M Wright. 2008. Birds of the World: Recommended English Names. Princeton University Press, Princeton NJ, USA. 2006. ISBN 9780691128276. Update (2008) downloaded from http://worldbirdnames.org/names.html.
- Sibley, CG and BL Monroe. 1996. Birds of the World, on diskette, Windows version 2.0. Charles G. Sibley, Santa Rosa, CA, USA.
- Malling Olsen K and H Larsson. 2003. Gulls of Europe, Asia and North America. London: Christoper Helm. ISBN 0 7136 7087 8
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Caspian Gull. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 19 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Caspian_Gull
External Links
ID discussion on how to distinguish Caspian (L. cachinnans) and Yellow-legged Gull (L. michahellis and L. m. atlantis)
