Olrog's Gull - BirdForum Opus

Larus atlanticus

Photo by Fritz73
Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Identification

50-56 cm. White head, neck, rump and underside, black wings, black band on tail, yellow legs, yellow bill with a black band near the end, and red tip.

Distribution

Breeds on the coast of Argentina, south of 11°S. Nonbreeding (winter) range includes the coast of Uruguay and southern Brazil.¹

Taxonomy

Monotypic.

Habitat

Flat, sandy islands, beaches, rocky coasts, harbours, coastal and brackish lagoons and estuaries.

Status

Classified as Vulnerable in the 2008 IUCN Red List.¹

Behaviour

Eggs are laid in September-October and chicks fledge in November.

The diet includes mainly of crabs in the breeding season.

References

1. BirdLife International (2008) Species factsheet: Larus atlanticus. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 12/9/2008.

External Links

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