Mediterranean Gull - new name needed? (1 Viewer)

[Colin]

The Mediterranean Gull has expanded its range quite a lot in recent years so that it now widespread in Western Europe, has hot spots all over inland Europe and is abundant in the region of the Black Sea. So, the name is no longer representative. What would your suggestion for a new name be? Perhaps 'Hooded Gull' or even 'Black-hooded Gull' as a starter. There are a lot of gulls around the world with names already taken so to speak, so, for example, 'White-winged Gull' is no good as that already exists.

 

[Original PaulE]

you could start by changing black headed gull to brown headed gull leaving a more appropriate name available for the med gull

cheers

 

[luke]

isn't there already a brown headed Gull??

 

[Colin]

you could start by changing black headed gull to brown headed gull leaving a more appropriate name available for the med gull

cheers

Quite. In fact the whole dark head marked gull situation is confusing. For example, Larus ridibundus means laughing gull whose scientific name Larus atricilla means black-tailed gull and as you say, the Black-headed Gull really has a brown head and the scientific name for the Med Gull is Larus Melanocephalus which means black headed gull. Confused?

 

[Colin]

isn't there already a brown headed Gull??

Hi Luke,
Yes, there is and it is an Asiatic species, Brown-headed Gull, Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus, the species scientific name meaning - brown-headed.

 

[dantheman]

How about European Gull then?????

Naff or what?!!!!!

 

[Colin]

How about European Gull then?????

Naff or what?!!!!!

Hmm, need to think about it - slight tendency towards naff at the moment.

Anyway, maybe in 50 years time or so, it may well have colonised the Americas!!

 

[Microtus]

Maybe you could call it European Union Gull?
|=)|

Actually, people are out looking for North America's first Mediterranean Gull. One could show up anywhere, I suppose, between North Carolina and Newfoundland. Or even elsewhere.

 

[Mysticete]

Don't see why you would need to change the name. There are plenty of species with rather misleading names; just look at Connecticut or Cape May Warbler in the US.

 

[Allen S. Moore]

Sandwich terns

Don't see why you would need to change the name. There are plenty of species with rather misleading names; just look at Connecticut or Cape May Warbler in the US.

Yeah, I suppose that a lot more med. gulls are seen around the Med. than sandwich terns in Sandwich in England!

 

[vanellus]

I suppose "Disappears from Newbiggin Beach evertime I try too see it Gull" is a bit of a mouthfull!

 

[Stephen Dunstan]

Yeah, I suppose that a lot more med. gulls are seen around the Med. than sandwich terns in Sandwich in England!

Or Kentish Plovers in Kent.

 

[cajanuma]

FWIW, in Italian it's called Gabbiano corallino because of its bright red bill. So how about Coral-billed Gull?

 

[Gentoo]

I think the name is because it was named after the region, not necessarily because it has to mainly occur there. The Virginia Rail is found across the USA and down into South America.

Ring-Necked Duck needs to be renamed.

 

[Colin]

I think the name is because it was named after the region, not necessarily because it has to mainly occur there. The Virginia Rail is found across the USA and down into South America.

Ring-Necked Duck needs to be renamed.

At least the Ring-necked Duck has a ring around its neck.

 

[Andrew]

Maybe redefine the region?

Make it all the Mediterranean!

 

[dantheman]

FWIW, in Italian it's called Gabbiano corallino because of its bright red bill. So how about Coral-billed Gull?

Probably sounds good in Italian, the english version doesn't have quite the same poetic ring to it to me.... bit of a mouthful???

 

[Colin]

Maybe redefine the region?

Make it all the Mediterranean!

Ah! A bit of lateral thinking - I like that.

 

[Colin]

FWIW, in Italian it's called Gabbiano corallino because of its bright red bill. So how about Coral-billed Gull?

I like both ideas.

 

[nickderry]

I think we should rename it "Susan", no other birds are called Susan and it works perfectly.