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Difference between revisions of "Herring Gull" - BirdForum Opus

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(Herring Gull lumped, consensus Clements and Dickinson, IOC would split them all. If necessary later, all articles can be reverted)
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{{disambig}}
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[[Image:Herring_Gull.jpg|thumb|550px|right|European Herring Gull<br />Photo by Robert Scanlon]]
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'''Herring Gull''' may refer to one of two species previously considered conspecific under the name '''Herring Gull''' (''Larus argentatus''):
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[[Image:East-Siberian_Gull.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Vega Gull<br />Photo by Alex Kuzmich  <br />Anadyr, Siberia, Russia]]
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;[[:Category:Larus|Larus]] argentatus
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'''Includes: Vega Gull and American Herring Gull'''
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==Identification==
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55-66cm.
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'''Breeding Adult'''
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*Grey back and upperwings
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*White head
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*White below
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*Black wing tips with white spots
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*Bare yellow eye ring
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*Yellow bill with red spot
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*Pink legs
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'''Non Breeding Adult'''
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*Brown streaks on head and neck
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'''Juvenile'''
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*Brown with dark streaks
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*Dark bill
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*Dark iris
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'''Second-winter bird'''
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*Whiter head and underparts
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*Grey back
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==Distribution==
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[[Image:American_Herring_Gull.jpg|thumb|350px|right|American Herring Gull<br />Photo by {{user|jvhigbee|jvhigbee}}]]
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====European Herring Gull====
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Breeds widely across Northern [[Europe]] from [[Iceland]] and the [[Faroes]] to northern [[Scandinavia]] and Arctic [[Russia]], reaching south to the [[British Isles]] and [[France]] east to [[Germany]], [[Poland]], [[Belarus]] and the [[Baltic States]]. Has recently been recorded breeding in a [[Yellow-legged Gull]] colony in northern [[Spain]]. <br/>
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Mainly resident or dispersive, except in north Norway, the Baltic, [[Finland]] and northern Russia where migratory.<br/>
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Widespread in winter in Western and Central Europe.<br/>
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Has bred on Svalbard and Bear Island.
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====Vega Gull====
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Breeds north-eastern [[Siberia]]; winters south to [[China]]
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====American Herring Gull====
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Breeds from [[Alaska]] east across northern [[Canada]] to Maritime Provinces, south to [[British Columbia]], north-central Canada, and Great Lakes, and along Atlantic Coast to [[North Carolina]]. <sup>[[#References|1]]</sup>
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==Taxonomy==
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[[Image:8242605-2287fg Immature Ring-billed Gull.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Juvenile American Herring Gull<br />Photo by {{user|jbobsofpa|bobsofpa}}<br />[[Sebastian Inlet State Park]], [[Florida]], [[USA]], February 2005]]
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Clements and Dickinson actually accept four subspecies in three groups:
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* '''European Herring Gull''':
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** ''L. a. argentatus'' in Scandinavia and extreme northwest [[Russia]], winters in northern and western [[Europe]]
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** ''L. a. argenteus'' in northwest [[Europe]], winters to northern [[Spain]]
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* '''Vega Gull or East Siberian Gull'''
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** ''L. a. vegae'' in northeast [[Siberia]], winters south to [[China]] 
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* '''American Herring Gull'''
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** ''L. a. smithsonianus'' in northern North America, winters south to Central America
  
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*'''[[American Herring Gull]]''' - ''Larus smithsonianus''
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All three groups are accepted as full species by Gill and Donsker.<br/>
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*'''[[European Herring Gull]]''' - ''Larus argentatus''
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Occasionally hybridises with other species, eg [[Lesser Black-backed Gull|Lesser Black-back]], and particularly [[Glaucous Gull]] in Iceland. <br/>
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This species also formerly included [[Yellow-legged Gull]], [[Caspian Gull]] and [[Armenian Gull]] which are now considered full species by most authorities.
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==Habitat==
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Breeds mainly along rocky coastlines on cliffs, stacks and islands, in some areas on buildings or on flatter areas of shore and in others at inland lakes. Mainly coastal when not breeding but increasingly in urban areas and on farmland. Abundant at refuse-tips and around fishing harbours.
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==Behaviour==
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====Diet====
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They are scavengers; they will also take eggs and young birds.
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====Breeding====
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They are colony nesters. 2-4 olive eggs are laid on the ground or cliff ledges and are incubated for 28-30 days.
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====Vocalisation====
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<flashmp3>Larus argentatus (song).mp3</flashmp3><br />
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''[[Media:Larus argentatus (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]''
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==References==
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#Wikipedia
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{{ref}}
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==External Links==
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{{GSearch|Larus+argentatus}}
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<br />
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{{Video|European_Herring_Gull}}
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[[Category:Birds]][[Category:Larus]][[Category:Bird Songs]] [[Category:Videos]]

Revision as of 15:13, 7 February 2011

European Herring Gull
Photo by Robert Scanlon
Vega Gull
Photo by Alex Kuzmich
Anadyr, Siberia, Russia
Larus argentatus

Includes: Vega Gull and American Herring Gull

Identification

55-66cm. Breeding Adult

  • Grey back and upperwings
  • White head
  • White below
  • Black wing tips with white spots
  • Bare yellow eye ring
  • Yellow bill with red spot
  • Pink legs

Non Breeding Adult

  • Brown streaks on head and neck

Juvenile

  • Brown with dark streaks
  • Dark bill
  • Dark iris

Second-winter bird

  • Whiter head and underparts
  • Grey back

Distribution

American Herring Gull
Photo by jvhigbee

European Herring Gull

Breeds widely across Northern Europe from Iceland and the Faroes to northern Scandinavia and Arctic Russia, reaching south to the British Isles and France east to Germany, Poland, Belarus and the Baltic States. Has recently been recorded breeding in a Yellow-legged Gull colony in northern Spain.
Mainly resident or dispersive, except in north Norway, the Baltic, Finland and northern Russia where migratory.
Widespread in winter in Western and Central Europe.
Has bred on Svalbard and Bear Island.

Vega Gull

Breeds north-eastern Siberia; winters south to China

American Herring Gull

Breeds from Alaska east across northern Canada to Maritime Provinces, south to British Columbia, north-central Canada, and Great Lakes, and along Atlantic Coast to North Carolina. 1

Taxonomy

Juvenile American Herring Gull
Photo by bobsofpa
Sebastian Inlet State Park, Florida, USA, February 2005

Clements and Dickinson actually accept four subspecies in three groups:

  • European Herring Gull:
    • L. a. argentatus in Scandinavia and extreme northwest Russia, winters in northern and western Europe
    • L. a. argenteus in northwest Europe, winters to northern Spain
  • Vega Gull or East Siberian Gull
  • American Herring Gull
    • L. a. smithsonianus in northern North America, winters south to Central America

All three groups are accepted as full species by Gill and Donsker.
Occasionally hybridises with other species, eg Lesser Black-back, and particularly Glaucous Gull in Iceland.
This species also formerly included Yellow-legged Gull, Caspian Gull and Armenian Gull which are now considered full species by most authorities.

Habitat

Breeds mainly along rocky coastlines on cliffs, stacks and islands, in some areas on buildings or on flatter areas of shore and in others at inland lakes. Mainly coastal when not breeding but increasingly in urban areas and on farmland. Abundant at refuse-tips and around fishing harbours.

Behaviour

Diet

They are scavengers; they will also take eggs and young birds.

Breeding

They are colony nesters. 2-4 olive eggs are laid on the ground or cliff ledges and are incubated for 28-30 days.

Vocalisation

<flashmp3>Larus argentatus (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program

References

  1. Wikipedia

Recommended Citation

External Links


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