- 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
- 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.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1].
Habitat
Coastal areas.
Behaviour
Diet
Forager and a scavenger.
References
- 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
- Avianweb
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Slaty-backed Gull. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 4 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Slaty-backed_Gull