The grey-headed gull (Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus), also known as the gray-hooded gull, is a small species of gull which breeds patchily in South America and Africa south of the Sahara. It is not truly migratory, but is more widespread in winter. This species has occurred as a rare vagrant to North America, Italy and Spain. As is the case with many gulls, it has traditionally been placed in the genusLarus.
This locally abundant gull breeds in large colonies in reedbeds and marshes, and lays two or three eggs in a nest, which can be on the ground or floating. Like most gulls, it is highly gregarious in winter, both when feeding and in evening roosts. Although it is predominantly coastal or estuarine, it is not a pelagic species, and is rarely seen at sea far from land.
Flocks numbering hundreds or thousands of these gulls can form when the feeding conditions are appropriate.
The grey-headed gull is slightly larger than the black-headed gull at 42 cm length. The summer adult has a pale gray head, a gray body, darker in tone than the black-headed, and red bill and legs. The black tips to the primary wing feathers have conspicuous white "mirrors". The underwing is dark gray with black wingtips. The gray hood is lost in winter, leaving just dark streaks.
Sexes are similar. The South American race is slightly larger and paler-backed than the African subspecies.
C. c. cirrocephalus (Vieillot, 1818) – South America
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Larus cirrocephalus.
^BirdLife International (2016). "Larus cirrocephalus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22694387A93451041. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22694387A93451041.en. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
Pons J.M., Hassanin, A., and Crochet P.A.(2005). Phylogenetic relationships within the Laridae (Charadriiformes: Aves) inferred from mitochondrial markers. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 37(3):686-699
External linksedit
Species text in The Atlas of Southern African Birds
December 08, 2023
grey, headed, gull, grey, headed, gull, chroicocephalus, cirrocephalus, also, known, gray, hooded, gull, small, species, gull, which, breeds, patchily, south, america, africa, south, sahara, truly, migratory, more, widespread, winter, this, species, occurred, . The grey headed gull Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus also known as the gray hooded gull is a small species of gull which breeds patchily in South America and Africa south of the Sahara It is not truly migratory but is more widespread in winter This species has occurred as a rare vagrant to North America Italy and Spain As is the case with many gulls it has traditionally been placed in the genus Larus Grey headed gullCaptive bird and a breeding adult SenegalConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass AvesOrder CharadriiformesFamily LaridaeGenus ChroicocephalusSpecies C cirrocephalusBinomial nameChroicocephalus cirrocephalus Vieillot 1818 range resident vagrantSynonymsLarus cirrocephalusChroicocephalus cirrocephalus MHNTThis locally abundant gull breeds in large colonies in reedbeds and marshes and lays two or three eggs in a nest which can be on the ground or floating Like most gulls it is highly gregarious in winter both when feeding and in evening roosts Although it is predominantly coastal or estuarine it is not a pelagic species and is rarely seen at sea far from land Flocks numbering hundreds or thousands of these gulls can form when the feeding conditions are appropriate The grey headed gull is slightly larger than the black headed gull at 42 cm length The summer adult has a pale gray head a gray body darker in tone than the black headed and red bill and legs The black tips to the primary wing feathers have conspicuous white mirrors The underwing is dark gray with black wingtips The gray hood is lost in winter leaving just dark streaks Sexes are similar The South American race is slightly larger and paler backed than the African subspecies C c cirrocephalus Vieillot 1818 South America C c poiocephalus William John Swainson 1837 AfricaThis gull takes two years to reach maturity First year birds have a black terminal tail band and more dark areas in the wings In flight the wings are broader and held flatter than those of black headed gull This is a noisy species especially at colonies The call is a raucous crow like caw caw Wintering bird South Africa Wintering adultBakau Gambia flockLake Elementaita KenyaReferences edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Larus cirrocephalus BirdLife International 2016 Larus cirrocephalus IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016 e T22694387A93451041 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2016 3 RLTS T22694387A93451041 en Retrieved 14 January 2018 Seabirds by Harrison ISBN 0 7470 1410 8 Birds of The Gambia by Barlow Wacher and Disley ISBN 1 873403 32 1 Pons J M Hassanin A and Crochet P A 2005 Phylogenetic relationships within the Laridae Charadriiformes Aves inferred from mitochondrial markers Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 37 3 686 699External links editSpecies text in The Atlas of Southern African Birds Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Grey headed gull amp oldid 1188550537, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
