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''Larus atricilla'' | ''Larus atricilla'' | ||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| − | + | Length 36-41 cm<br/> | |
| − | + | Wingspan 98-110 cm<br /> | |
| + | Weight 240-400 g<br> | ||
One of two North American dark-backed hooded gulls.<br /> | One of two North American dark-backed hooded gulls.<br /> | ||
| − | Field marks include dark almost slate colored back, small white primary tips, large bill, narrow eye-arcs, and extensive hood | + | Field marks include dark almost slate colored back, small white primary tips, large dark red bill, narrow eye-arcs, and extensive hood in breeding plumage.<br /> |
| − | '''Nonbreeding''' has limited remnants of hood and | + | '''Nonbreeding''' has limited remnants of hood and blacker bill.<br /> |
'''Juveniles''' have totally black primary tips, gray neck, and black bill. | '''Juveniles''' have totally black primary tips, gray neck, and black bill. | ||
====Similar species==== | ====Similar species==== | ||
[[Bonaparte's Gull]] is smaller with much lighter gray back, smaller black bill (in all plumages), and with almost no white on primary tips. <br /> | [[Bonaparte's Gull]] is smaller with much lighter gray back, smaller black bill (in all plumages), and with almost no white on primary tips. <br /> | ||
[[Black-headed Gull]] is slightly larger with much lighter gray back, less extensive hood, and with mostly no white to primary tips.<br /> | [[Black-headed Gull]] is slightly larger with much lighter gray back, less extensive hood, and with mostly no white to primary tips.<br /> | ||
| − | [[Franklin's Gull]] is a slightly smaller dark-backed hooded gull with larger white primary tips (even in | + | [[Franklin's Gull]] is a slightly smaller dark-backed hooded gull with larger white primary tips (even in juvenile plumage), much less extensive black in wingtips when flying, broader eye-arcs, and smaller thinner bill. Juvenile Franklin's have whitish neck (instead of gray). |
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
[[Image:Laughing_Gull_nonbreeding.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Nonbreeding plumage<br />Photo by {{user|bobsofpa|bobsofpa}}<br />Fort DeSoto Park, [[Florida]], [[USA]], September 2008]] | [[Image:Laughing_Gull_nonbreeding.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Nonbreeding plumage<br />Photo by {{user|bobsofpa|bobsofpa}}<br />Fort DeSoto Park, [[Florida]], [[USA]], September 2008]] | ||
| − | + | A partial migrant. It is a year-round resident on the eastern and southern coastline of the [[United States]] from [[Delaware]] to the southern tip of [[Texas]], throughout the [[Caribbean]], the east coast of [[Mexico]] and [[Central America]], and locally on the west coast of Mexico and the north coast of [[South America]]. <br /> Additionally a breeding summer visitor north to [[Nova Scotia]] in [[Canada]], and winters on both coasts of South America south to northern [[Chile]] and the Amazon mouth in [[Brazil]].<br /> | |
Rare away from east coast and south coast of the U.S. but with records in almost every state. <br /> | Rare away from east coast and south coast of the U.S. but with records in almost every state. <br /> | ||
| − | Vagrant to [[Europe]] with | + | Vagrant to [[Europe]] with records nearly annually in the [[UK]]. |
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
====Subspecies==== | ====Subspecies==== | ||
| − | This is a [[ | + | This is a [[Dictionary_P-S#P|polytypic]] species consisting of two subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>: |
*''L. a. megalopterus'': | *''L. a. megalopterus'': | ||
:*South-eastern [[California]] to western [[Mexico]]; [[Maine]] to Central America; winters to [[Peru]] | :*South-eastern [[California]] to western [[Mexico]]; [[Maine]] to Central America; winters to [[Peru]] | ||
*''L. a. atricilla'': | *''L. a. atricilla'': | ||
:*[[West Indies]] to [[Trinidad]]; winters to northern [[Brazil]] | :*[[West Indies]] to [[Trinidad]]; winters to northern [[Brazil]] | ||
| − | + | It was formerly placed it in the genus [[:Category:Larus|Larus]]. | |
<gallery> | <gallery> | ||
Image:608-08898fg Immature Laughing Gull.jpg|<br />Juvenile <br />Photo by {{user|bobsofpa|bobsofpa}}<br />[[Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge]], Delaware, [[USA]], August 2008 | Image:608-08898fg Immature Laughing Gull.jpg|<br />Juvenile <br />Photo by {{user|bobsofpa|bobsofpa}}<br />[[Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge]], Delaware, [[USA]], August 2008 | ||
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==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
| − | + | Breeds on coastal islands, saltmarshes and sand-dunes. | |
| − | == | + | ==Behavior== |
Often gathers in large flocks in beachfront areas on lawns, park areas, parking lots, etc. | Often gathers in large flocks in beachfront areas on lawns, park areas, parking lots, etc. | ||
====Diet==== | ====Diet==== | ||
| − | Omnivorous - diet includes fish, insects, carrion, mollusks, eggs, worms, young birds, etc. Collects food by foraging on beaches and shallows; does not submerge in search of food like some other | + | Omnivorous - diet includes fish, insects, carrion, mollusks, eggs, worms, young birds, etc. Collects food by foraging on beaches and shallows; does not usually submerge in search of food like some other seabirds. <br/> |
| − | They are scavengers as well as hunting small prey. | + | They are scavengers as well as hunting small prey, and readily take human-supplied food such as fish waste, bread and french fries. Many have learnt to steal food ([[Dictionary_G-L#K|kleptoparasitism]]) from [[Brown Pelican]]s and other seabirds. |
====Breeding==== | ====Breeding==== | ||
A large nest is built of grass and placed on the ground. 3-4 greenish eggs are laid and incubated for about 21 days. | A large nest is built of grass and placed on the ground. 3-4 greenish eggs are laid and incubated for about 21 days. | ||
Revision as of 09:17, 14 July 2014
- Leucophaeus atricilla
Larus atricilla
Identification
Length 36-41 cm
Wingspan 98-110 cm
Weight 240-400 g
One of two North American dark-backed hooded gulls.
Field marks include dark almost slate colored back, small white primary tips, large dark red bill, narrow eye-arcs, and extensive hood in breeding plumage.
Nonbreeding has limited remnants of hood and blacker bill.
Juveniles have totally black primary tips, gray neck, and black bill.
Similar species
Bonaparte's Gull is smaller with much lighter gray back, smaller black bill (in all plumages), and with almost no white on primary tips.
Black-headed Gull is slightly larger with much lighter gray back, less extensive hood, and with mostly no white to primary tips.
Franklin's Gull is a slightly smaller dark-backed hooded gull with larger white primary tips (even in juvenile plumage), much less extensive black in wingtips when flying, broader eye-arcs, and smaller thinner bill. Juvenile Franklin's have whitish neck (instead of gray).
Distribution
A partial migrant. It is a year-round resident on the eastern and southern coastline of the United States from Delaware to the southern tip of Texas, throughout the Caribbean, the east coast of Mexico and Central America, and locally on the west coast of Mexico and the north coast of South America.
Additionally a breeding summer visitor north to Nova Scotia in Canada, and winters on both coasts of South America south to northern Chile and the Amazon mouth in Brazil.
Rare away from east coast and south coast of the U.S. but with records in almost every state.
Vagrant to Europe with records nearly annually in the UK.
Taxonomy
Subspecies
This is a polytypic species consisting of two subspecies[1]:
- L. a. megalopterus:
- South-eastern California to western Mexico; Maine to Central America; winters to Peru
- L. a. atricilla:
- West Indies to Trinidad; winters to northern Brazil
It was formerly placed it in the genus Larus.
Juvenile
Photo by bobsofpa
Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, Delaware, USA, August 2008
First Summer
Photo by bobsofpa
Flamingo, Everglades National Park, Florida, USA, April 2008
Habitat
Breeds on coastal islands, saltmarshes and sand-dunes.
Behavior
Often gathers in large flocks in beachfront areas on lawns, park areas, parking lots, etc.
Diet
Omnivorous - diet includes fish, insects, carrion, mollusks, eggs, worms, young birds, etc. Collects food by foraging on beaches and shallows; does not usually submerge in search of food like some other seabirds.
They are scavengers as well as hunting small prey, and readily take human-supplied food such as fish waste, bread and french fries. Many have learnt to steal food (kleptoparasitism) from Brown Pelicans and other seabirds.
Breeding
A large nest is built of grass and placed on the ground. 3-4 greenish eggs are laid and incubated for about 21 days.
Vocalisation
A laugh-like ha, ha, ha, ha. Also a yelp similar to Common's kee-agh
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, B.L. Sullivan, C. L. Wood, and D. Roberson. 2013. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.8., with updates to August 2013. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Collins Field Guide 5th Edition
- Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Laughing Gull. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 8 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Laughing_Gull
External Links
