- Larus scoresbii
Identification
Size: 40-60 cm, wing 30.6-33.9 cm, wingspan 104-110 cm, weight 524 g, male generally larger in all measurements.
Adult: Bill and legs red. Head, neck, and underparts grey, black back and tops of wings with white wing tips. Underwings grey, white tail.
Immature: Brownish hood, grey neck and upper breast, with rest of underparts and rump white. Black band on white tail.
Distribution
This handsome small gull is quite common in coastal regions of Southern Chile, Southern Argentina, and the Falkland Islands.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species, which is sometimes placed in genus Leucophaeus.1,2
Habitat
Docks, rubbish piles, mixed with other seabirds on shorelines.
Behaviour
Breeding: Early November, nest made of kelp and vegetation lined with grass, normally sheltered by boulders or grass. Lays 2-3 olive-buff or grey-green eggs, incubation 24-27 days. Chicks leave nest at 2-5 days.
References
- Dickinson EC (ed.) 2003. The Howard & Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World. 3rd ed. Princeton Univ. Press, Princeton, NJ, USA. ISBN 9780691117010
- Gill F & Wright M. 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.
