- Leucophaeus modestus
Larus modestus
Identification
45 cm (17¾ in)
Breeding
- Dull grey overall plumage
- White head
- Black wing tips
Distribution
This smart-looking small gull is endemic to areas where it has access to the Humboldt Current off western South America: found in Ecuador, Peru and Chile.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1], which is sometimes placed in genus Larus.
Habitat
Rocky coasts for resting and feeding in the sea, but usually breeds far from the coast in flat desert areas filled with small rocks. A few recent reports of coastal breeding in a year with poor food availability.
Behaviour
Diet
Their diet consists mostly of mole crabs; also fish and offal.
Breeding
Colonial breeders. Nesting season is November to January. The adults stay with the chicks during the day, but one adult heads for the coast at night to forage.
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/
- Avibase
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved May 2014)
- BF Member observations
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Gray Gull. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 12 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Gray_Gull
