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| − | ;Larus canus | + | [[Image:Larus canus canus by mikemik.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Common Gull ''L. c. canus'', adult summer pair<br />Photo by {{user|mikemik|mikemik}}<br />[[Sweden]], June 2006]] |
| − | [[Image: | + | '''Includes: Common Gull''' |
| − | == | + | ;[[:Category:Larus|Larus]] canus |
| − | to | + | ==Identification== |
| − | == | + | [[Image:Larus canus canus by Doc Duck.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Common Gull ''L. c. canus'', showing wing pattern<br />Photo by {{user|Doc+Duck|Doc Duck}}<br />Trondheim, [[Norway]], June 2013]] |
| + | Length 40–46 cm (15¾-18 in), wingspan 100-130 cm, weight 300-550 g [Common Gull ''L. c. canus''; see Subspecies, below, for other subspp.]<br /> | ||
| + | A fairly small white-headed gull, with small yellow bill, petite looks, medium-grey mantle, broad white crescents on back, round head, white primary tips show well when standing, and usually dark brown iris. In winter, the head is lightly streaked with dark grey, and the bill often has a narrow dusky to diffuse black band. Juvenile to first summer have white tail with black terminal band; brownish-black primaries; head and body brown to whitish, often heavily streaked; mantle brown in juvenile, grey by first winter. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ====Similar Species==== | ||
| + | [[Ring-billed Gull]] is slightly larger with slightly lighter back, pale yellow iris, thicker bill with broad solid black ring, narrower white crescents on back, and less white on the primary tips. Juveniles have whiter belly and black primaries. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Distribution== | ||
| + | Breeds in northern [[Europe]], northern [[Asia]], and northwestern [[North America]]; migrates south during the winter. See subspecies, below, for detail. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Taxonomy== | ||
| + | Its closest relative is [[Ring-billed Gull]], and secondarily to the entire [[Herring Gull]] complex of large white-headed gulls. | ||
| + | ====Subspecies==== | ||
| + | [[Image:Larus canus kamtschatschensis by DaninJapan.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Kamchatka Gull ''L. c. kamtschatschensis'', adult winter<br />Photo by {{user|DaninJapan|DaninJapan}}<br />Shimoda-Machi, Aomori-Ken, [[Japan]]; February 2005]] | ||
| + | [[Image:Larus canus brachyrhynchus by bobsofpa.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Mew Gull ''L. c. brachyrhynchus'', adult summer<br />Photo by {{user|bobsofpa|bobsofpa}}<br />Denali National Park, [[Alaska]], [[USA]], July 2013]] | ||
| + | Subdivided into four subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>, one of which probably better treated as a separate species<sup>[[#References|[2]]]</sup>: | ||
| + | *''L. c. canus'' '''Common Gull'''. Abundant breeding species in northern [[Europe]] ([[Iceland]], northwestern [[Ireland]], [[Scotland]], [[Netherlands]], northern [[Germany]], [[Scandinavia]], [[Finland]], [[Poland]], the [[Baltic States]], and [[Russia]] east to about 40°E longitude; wintering south and west to [[Ireland]], [[Britain]], [[France]] and northern [[Germany]]; small numbers as far south as [[Morocco]], and west to the Atlantic coast of North America. Abundant, with a population of around 500,000 pairs; after [[Black-headed Gull]] the commonest gull wintering in [[Britain]], with 700,000 birds, with a northern bias. | ||
| + | *''L. c. heinei'' '''Siberian Common Gull'''. Breeds in [[Russia]] and [[Kazakhstan]] from around 40°E to around 140°E longitude; wintering mainly in central Europe, the eastern Mediterranean, Black Sea, and southern Caspian Sea, though a few also west to Britain, and east with ''L. c. kamtschatschensis'' to the western Pacific. As ''L. c. canus'', but mantle slightly darker. Population not known, but common in central Europe in winter. | ||
| + | *''L. c. kamtschatschensis'' '''Kamchatka Gull'''. Breeds in north-eastern Siberia; winters western Pacific in [[Japan]], [[Korea]], northeastern [[China]], and far southeastern [[Russia]] (Vladivostok area). Length to 45 cm, weight to 600 g. As ''L. c. heinei'', but larger, with a longer, heavier bill and more angular head; legs brighter yellow; iris often light brown in adults; size suggests a transition to [[Ring-billed Gull]] rather than Mew Gull<sup>[[#References|[2]]]</sup>. Population not known, but common in Japan in winter. | ||
| + | :*The above three subspecies are weakly defined, with broad zones of intergradation where they meet<sup>[[#References|[2]]]</sup>. | ||
| + | *''L. c. brachyrhynchus'' '''Mew Gull''' (has also been called Short-billed Gull). Breeds in [[Alaska]] and western [[Canada]]; winters along west coast of North America from Alaska south to [[Baja California]], rare elsewhere in North America (but recorded east to Atlantic coast). Length 38-41 cm, wingspan 100-120 cm, weight 325-495 g. Adult plumage similar to ''L. c. canus'' but with less black on wingtips, head more heavily streaked and bill with less black smudging in winter; iris mid brown, sometimes yellowish. Structure differs more, with relatively longer wings and more rounded head; bill shorter and weaker, and with less black marking in winter. Juvenile plumage markedly different, with uniform dusky brown head and underside, much broader blackish-brown tail band (no white base), and browner wings. A scarce taxon, with a population of little over 10,000 pairs<sup>[[#References|[2]]]</sup>. | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Image:Larus canus canus juv by Bobby65.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Common Gull ''L. c. canus'', juvenile<br />Photo by {{user|Bobby65|Bobby65}}<br />Leksand, [[Sweden]]; August 2005]] | ||
| + | The once-split subspecies ''L. c. brachyrhynchus'' has now again been lumped with ''Larus canus''<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>. The common name Mew Gull is recommended by all the major taxonomic authorities for the merged species, despite this not being the name of the nominate subspecies, and being far less widespread and abundant than Common Gull. The species continues to be known as Common Gull in [[Europe]] and [[Asia]]. The only world-wide authority to recognise the split of Mew Gull from Common Gull was the 1996 installment of Sibley and Monroe<sup>[[#References|[3]]]</sup>, though they are also treated as separate species in Olsen & Larsson's monograph (2003)<sup>[[#References|[2]]]</sup> and in a major study by Adriaens & Gibbins (2016)<sup>[[#References|[4]]]</sup>, a trend likely to increase further in the future. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Habitat== | ||
| + | Natural habitat by lakes and marshes in the breeding season and along coasts in winter; within last century or so has become strongly adapted to human commensalism, feeding on ploughed fields, meadows, and sports grounds, or in streets on human-supplied food, and using roofs in urban areas (particularly industrial estates) to nest and rest. Outside of the breeding season, often flies often long distances (up to 20-30 km) every evening to roost at sea or on large lakes and reservoirs. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Behaviour== | ||
| + | ====Diet==== | ||
| + | Omnivorous. They scavenge as well as hunt small prey. | ||
| + | ====Breeding==== | ||
| + | They make a lined nest on the ground on islets in wetlands or on moorland, on large buildings (flat-roofed factories), or rarely, in a tree. | ||
| + | ====Vocalisation==== | ||
<flashmp3>Larus canus (song).mp3</flashmp3><br /> | <flashmp3>Larus canus (song).mp3</flashmp3><br /> | ||
''[[Media:Larus canus (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]'' | ''[[Media:Larus canus (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]'' | ||
| + | ==Gallery== | ||
| + | Click on photo for larger image | ||
| + | <gallery> | ||
| + | Image:Larus canus canus 1stw by tacumshin.jpg|Common Gull ''L. c. canus'', first winter<br />Photo by {{user|tacumshin|tacumshin}}<br />Kilmore, [[Ireland]], February 2012 | ||
| + | Image:IMG 35761.JPG|1st Winter, subspecies ''canus''<br />Photo by {{user|G6 UXU|G6 UXU}}<br />Preston Docks, [[Lancashire]], March 2018 | ||
| + | Image:Larus canus brachyrhynchus juvs by Doc Duck.jpg|Mew Gull ''L. c. brachyrhynchus'', juveniles<br />Photo by {{user|Doc+Duck|Doc Duck}}<br />Anchorage, [[Alaska]], [[USA]], August 2014 | ||
| + | </gallery> | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==References== | ||
| + | #{{Ref-Clements6thAug17}}#Olsen, K. M., & Larsson, H. (2003). ''Gulls of Europe, Asia and North America''. Helm ISBN 978-0-7136-7087-5 | ||
| + | #{{Ref-SibleyMonroe96}}#Adriaens, P., & Gibbins, C. (2016). Identification of the ''Larus canus'' complex. ''Dutch Birding'' 38 (1): 1–64. | ||
| + | {{ref}} | ||
| + | |||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
| − | + | {{GSearch|Larus_canus}} | |
| − | [[Category:Birds]] | + | <br /> |
| + | {{Video|Mew_Gull}} | ||
| + | <br /> | ||
| + | {{Video|Common_Gull Use "Common Gull" to}} | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Category:Birds]][[Category:Larus]][[Category:Bird Songs]][[Category:Videos]] | ||
Revision as of 22:35, 7 April 2018
Includes: Common Gull
- Larus canus
Identification
Length 40–46 cm (15¾-18 in), wingspan 100-130 cm, weight 300-550 g [Common Gull L. c. canus; see Subspecies, below, for other subspp.]
A fairly small white-headed gull, with small yellow bill, petite looks, medium-grey mantle, broad white crescents on back, round head, white primary tips show well when standing, and usually dark brown iris. In winter, the head is lightly streaked with dark grey, and the bill often has a narrow dusky to diffuse black band. Juvenile to first summer have white tail with black terminal band; brownish-black primaries; head and body brown to whitish, often heavily streaked; mantle brown in juvenile, grey by first winter.
Similar Species
Ring-billed Gull is slightly larger with slightly lighter back, pale yellow iris, thicker bill with broad solid black ring, narrower white crescents on back, and less white on the primary tips. Juveniles have whiter belly and black primaries.
Distribution
Breeds in northern Europe, northern Asia, and northwestern North America; migrates south during the winter. See subspecies, below, for detail.
Taxonomy
Its closest relative is Ring-billed Gull, and secondarily to the entire Herring Gull complex of large white-headed gulls.
Subspecies
Kamchatka Gull L. c. kamtschatschensis, adult winter
Photo by DaninJapan
Shimoda-Machi, Aomori-Ken, Japan; February 2005
Photo by DaninJapan
Shimoda-Machi, Aomori-Ken, Japan; February 2005
Subdivided into four subspecies[1], one of which probably better treated as a separate species[2]:
- L. c. canus Common Gull. Abundant breeding species in northern Europe (Iceland, northwestern Ireland, Scotland, Netherlands, northern Germany, Scandinavia, Finland, Poland, the Baltic States, and Russia east to about 40°E longitude; wintering south and west to Ireland, Britain, France and northern Germany; small numbers as far south as Morocco, and west to the Atlantic coast of North America. Abundant, with a population of around 500,000 pairs; after Black-headed Gull the commonest gull wintering in Britain, with 700,000 birds, with a northern bias.
- L. c. heinei Siberian Common Gull. Breeds in Russia and Kazakhstan from around 40°E to around 140°E longitude; wintering mainly in central Europe, the eastern Mediterranean, Black Sea, and southern Caspian Sea, though a few also west to Britain, and east with L. c. kamtschatschensis to the western Pacific. As L. c. canus, but mantle slightly darker. Population not known, but common in central Europe in winter.
- L. c. kamtschatschensis Kamchatka Gull. Breeds in north-eastern Siberia; winters western Pacific in Japan, Korea, northeastern China, and far southeastern Russia (Vladivostok area). Length to 45 cm, weight to 600 g. As L. c. heinei, but larger, with a longer, heavier bill and more angular head; legs brighter yellow; iris often light brown in adults; size suggests a transition to Ring-billed Gull rather than Mew Gull[2]. Population not known, but common in Japan in winter.
- The above three subspecies are weakly defined, with broad zones of intergradation where they meet[2].
- L. c. brachyrhynchus Mew Gull (has also been called Short-billed Gull). Breeds in Alaska and western Canada; winters along west coast of North America from Alaska south to Baja California, rare elsewhere in North America (but recorded east to Atlantic coast). Length 38-41 cm, wingspan 100-120 cm, weight 325-495 g. Adult plumage similar to L. c. canus but with less black on wingtips, head more heavily streaked and bill with less black smudging in winter; iris mid brown, sometimes yellowish. Structure differs more, with relatively longer wings and more rounded head; bill shorter and weaker, and with less black marking in winter. Juvenile plumage markedly different, with uniform dusky brown head and underside, much broader blackish-brown tail band (no white base), and browner wings. A scarce taxon, with a population of little over 10,000 pairs[2].
The once-split subspecies L. c. brachyrhynchus has now again been lumped with Larus canus[1]. The common name Mew Gull is recommended by all the major taxonomic authorities for the merged species, despite this not being the name of the nominate subspecies, and being far less widespread and abundant than Common Gull. The species continues to be known as Common Gull in Europe and Asia. The only world-wide authority to recognise the split of Mew Gull from Common Gull was the 1996 installment of Sibley and Monroe[3], though they are also treated as separate species in Olsen & Larsson's monograph (2003)[2] and in a major study by Adriaens & Gibbins (2016)[4], a trend likely to increase further in the future.
Habitat
Natural habitat by lakes and marshes in the breeding season and along coasts in winter; within last century or so has become strongly adapted to human commensalism, feeding on ploughed fields, meadows, and sports grounds, or in streets on human-supplied food, and using roofs in urban areas (particularly industrial estates) to nest and rest. Outside of the breeding season, often flies often long distances (up to 20-30 km) every evening to roost at sea or on large lakes and reservoirs.
Behaviour
Diet
Omnivorous. They scavenge as well as hunt small prey.
Breeding
They make a lined nest on the ground on islets in wetlands or on moorland, on large buildings (flat-roofed factories), or rarely, in a tree.
Vocalisation
<flashmp3>Larus canus (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program
Gallery
Click on photo for larger image
1st Winter, subspecies canus
Photo by UXU G6 UXU
Preston Docks, Lancashire, March 2018
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2017. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2017, with updates to August 2017. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Olsen, K. M., & Larsson, H. (2003). Gulls of Europe, Asia and North America. Helm ISBN 978-0-7136-7087-5
- Sibley, CG and BL Monroe. 1996. Birds of the World, on diskette, Windows version 2.0. Charles G. Sibley, Santa Rosa, CA, USA.
- Adriaens, P., & Gibbins, C. (2016). Identification of the Larus canus complex. Dutch Birding 38 (1): 1–64.
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Common Gull. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 19 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Common_Gull
External Links
