- Larus ridibundus
Identification
Identified by red bill and light grey back. A bit larger and with longer bill than Bonaparte's Gull.
Similar Species
Little Gull is smaller with much thinner shorter bill, much more extensive hood, and very short primary projection.
Bonaparte's Gull is smaller with perhaps slightly darker back, more extensive black hood, slightly shorter black bill, no extensive black on primaries in flight, and pink legs.
Franklin's Gull is slightly smaller with much darker back, thicker bill, and large white primary tips.
Laughing Gull is just slightly larger with much darker back, much larger bill, and small white primary tips.
Distribution
Widespread and abundant over much of the region and often the most familiar gull in inland areas. Breeds in Iceland, the Faroes and British Isles, southern parts of Sweden and Finland and sparingly in Norway and across Europe from northern France to Russia and south to the Black and Caspian Seas. Breeds in small numbers in scattered areas of southern France, Italy, and Spain, Sardinia, Sicily and central Turkey.
Resident in north-west of range but migratory in Scandinavia, Eastern Europe and Russia. Winter range extensive in southern Europe and around the Mediterranean and south on Atlantic coasts of North-West Africa, the Middle East and southern Iraq.
Vagrant north to Svalbard, Bear Island, and Jan Mayen and south to Cape Verde Islands. Also vagrant to United States and Canada, mostly in the northeast but also in the midwest and along the pacific coast.
Taxonomy
Two subspecies are recognized, ridibundus and sibiricus. Some authorities consider this species to belong to genus Chroicocephalus.
Habitat
Breeds in colonies beside fresh, brackish or salt water in swamps, reeds and other vegetation, often on islands, shingle-bars and sandspits. Outside breeding season both coastal and inland. Found on sandy and muddy shores and estuaries, and inland on farmland, playing-fields, reservoirs and gravel pits.
As a vagrant in the United States often found hanging out with Bonaparte's Gulls at loafing areas.
Behaviour
The diet includes worms, insects, fish and carrion.
They nest in colonies on cliffs, the ground, or on buildings. The nest is usually a scrape in the ground or a pile of dead plant material. The light greenish-blue eggs have dark blotches on them and are smooth and glossy. Both birds share the duty of incubating the eggs and feeding the nestlings.
Vocalisation
<flashmp3>Larus ridibundus (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program
External Links
