Black-tailed Gull

Taxobox
name = Black-tailed Gull
status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1


image_width = 250px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Charadriiformes
familia = Laridae
genus = "Larus"
species = "L. crassirostris"
binomial = "Larus crassirostris"
binomial_authority = Vieillot, 1818, Nagasaki, Japan

The Black-tailed Gull ("Larus crassirostris") is a medium-sized (46cm) gull, with a wingspan of 126-128 cm. The bird is resident in East Asia, including China, Japan and Korea. It is a vagrant to Alaska and northeastern North America.

It has yellow legs and a red and black spot at the end of the bill. This gull takes 4 years to reach full adult plumage. As the name suggests, it has a black tail. The bird has a cat-like call, giving it its Japanese name — "Umineko", "Sea cat" and Korean name — "Gwaeng-yi" gull, which means "cat" gull.

The Black-tailed Gull feeds mainly on small fish, molluscs, crustaceans and offal. It often follows ships and commercial fishing fleets. It does steal food from other seabirds.

It is a colonial nester, with colonies forming in mid-April. 2-3 eggs are laid by early June. Incubation lasts approximately 24 days.

A rare visitor to the United States, a black-tailed gull was spotted from Burlington, Vermont, in October 2005. Pictures from that sighting can be seen [http://juliesmagiclightshow.com/index.php?tc=58&keywords=black-tailed%20gull here]

Gallery

References

* Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
* "National Geographic" "Field Guide to the Birds of North" "America" ISBN 0-7922-6877-6
*" Seabirds, an Identification Guide" by Peter Harrison, (1983) ISBN 0-7470-1410-8
*"Handbook of the Birds of the World Vol 3", Josep del Hoyo editor, ISBN 84-87334-10-5
*"National Audubon Society" "The Sibley Guide to Birds", by David Allen Sibley, ISBN 0-679-45122-6