The Pacific gull (Larus pacificus) is a very large gull, native to the coasts of Australia. It is moderately common between Carnarvon in the west, and Sydney in the east, although it has become scarce in some parts of the south-east, as a result of competition from the kelp gull, which has "self-introduced" since the 1940s.
L. p. pacificusLatham, 1801 L. p. georgis King, 1826
Much larger than the ubiquitous silver gull, and nowhere near as common, Pacific gulls are usually seen alone or in pairs, loafing around the shoreline, steadily patrolling high above the edge of the water, or (sometimes) zooming high on the breeze to drop a shellfish or sea urchin onto rocks.
The gulls' diet consists of a number various fish species and invertebrates. They frequently consume crabs, most often the species Ovalipes australiensis and Paragrapsus gaimardii. They also commonly eat Platycephalus bassensis (sand flatheads) and cephalopods, both of which are sourced from their regular consumption of waste from fish which have been cleaned on wharves and beaches. Additionally, they may eat insects, eggs, and other seabirds.[2]
The gulls may be found scavenging abattoirs and in rubbish tips, where they will often steal food from other birds.[3]
Taxonomyedit
The Pacific gull was first described by English ornithologist John Latham in 1801 from a Thomas Watling drawing, where the local name had been recorded as Troo-gad-dill.[4][5] Its specific epithet refers to the Pacific Ocean.
Pacific gulls are the only large gulls in their range, besides the occasional kelp gull. This species can range in length from 58 to 66 cm (23 to 26 in) and span 137 to 157 cm (54 to 62 in) across the wings.[7] They typically weigh from 900 to 1,180 g (1.98 to 2.60 lb).[8] This species is mostly white, with dark wings and back, and a very thick (when compared to other gull species), powerful, red-tipped yellow bill. They have salt glands that secrete salty water through the nostrils. Young birds are mottled-brown all over, and attain their adult plumage only gradually; by its fourth year, a young Pacific gull has usually become difficult to tell apart from an adult bird.
Adult and juveniles, Cape Woolamai, Victoria
Of the two subspecies, the nominate eastern race prefers sheltered beaches, and the western race L. p. georgii is commonly found even on exposed shores. Both subspecies nest in pairs or loose colonies on offshore islands, making a cup of grasses and sticks in an exposed position, and laying two or three mottled brown eggs.
Juvenile
Juvenile, Cape Woolamai, Victoria
Adult, Freycinet, Tasmania
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Larus pacificus.
Wikispecies has information related to Larus pacificus.
Referencesedit
^BirdLife International (2018). "Larus pacificus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T22694279A132537859. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22694279A132537859.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
^Coulson, Ruth; Coulson, Graeme (1993-03-01). "Diets of the Pacific Gull Larus pacificus and the Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus in Tasmania". Emu - Austral Ornithology. 93 (1): 50–53. Bibcode:1993EmuAO..93...50C. doi:10.1071/MU9930050. ISSN 0158-4197.
^Coulson, G.M. & Coulson, R.I. (March 1983). "The significance of rubbish tips as an additional food source for the Kelp Gull and the Pacific Gull in Tasmania" (PDF). Centre for Environmental Studies - University of Tasmania.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^Latham, John (1801). Supplementum indicis ornithologici sive systematis ornithologiae (in Latin). London: Leigh & Sotheby. p. lxviii.
^. First Fleet Artwork Collection. The Natural History Museum. 2007. Archived from the original on 2009-02-10. Retrieved 2008-08-15.
^Gill, Frank; Donsker, David, eds. (2019). "Noddies, gulls, terns, auks". World Bird List Version 9.2. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
pacific, gull, larus, pacificus, very, large, gull, native, coasts, australia, moderately, common, between, carnarvon, west, sydney, east, although, become, scarce, some, parts, south, east, result, competition, from, kelp, gull, which, self, introduced, since. The Pacific gull Larus pacificus is a very large gull native to the coasts of Australia It is moderately common between Carnarvon in the west and Sydney in the east although it has become scarce in some parts of the south east as a result of competition from the kelp gull which has self introduced since the 1940s Pacific gull L p pacificus Freycinet Peninsula Tasmania Australia Conservation status Least Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Aves Order Charadriiformes Family Laridae Genus Larus Species L pacificus Binomial name Larus pacificusLatham 1801 Subspecies L p pacificus Latham 1801 L p georgis King 1826 Much larger than the ubiquitous silver gull and nowhere near as common Pacific gulls are usually seen alone or in pairs loafing around the shoreline steadily patrolling high above the edge of the water or sometimes zooming high on the breeze to drop a shellfish or sea urchin onto rocks Contents 1 Diet 2 Taxonomy 3 Description 4 ReferencesDiet editThe gulls diet consists of a number various fish species and invertebrates They frequently consume crabs most often the species Ovalipes australiensis and Paragrapsus gaimardii They also commonly eat Platycephalus bassensis sand flatheads and cephalopods both of which are sourced from their regular consumption of waste from fish which have been cleaned on wharves and beaches Additionally they may eat insects eggs and other seabirds 2 The gulls may be found scavenging abattoirs and in rubbish tips where they will often steal food from other birds 3 Taxonomy editThe Pacific gull was first described by English ornithologist John Latham in 1801 from a Thomas Watling drawing where the local name had been recorded as Troo gad dill 4 5 Its specific epithet refers to the Pacific Ocean Two subspecies are recognised the nominate race L p pacificus from the south east coast and Tasmania and L p georgii from South Australia and Western Australia 6 Description editPacific gulls are the only large gulls in their range besides the occasional kelp gull This species can range in length from 58 to 66 cm 23 to 26 in and span 137 to 157 cm 54 to 62 in across the wings 7 They typically weigh from 900 to 1 180 g 1 98 to 2 60 lb 8 This species is mostly white with dark wings and back and a very thick when compared to other gull species powerful red tipped yellow bill They have salt glands that secrete salty water through the nostrils Young birds are mottled brown all over and attain their adult plumage only gradually by its fourth year a young Pacific gull has usually become difficult to tell apart from an adult bird nbsp Adult and juveniles Cape Woolamai Victoria Of the two subspecies the nominate eastern race prefers sheltered beaches and the western race L p georgii is commonly found even on exposed shores Both subspecies nest in pairs or loose colonies on offshore islands making a cup of grasses and sticks in an exposed position and laying two or three mottled brown eggs nbsp Juvenile nbsp Juvenile Cape Woolamai Victoria nbsp Adult Freycinet Tasmania nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Larus pacificus nbsp Wikispecies has information related to Larus pacificus References edit BirdLife International 2018 Larus pacificus IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018 e T22694279A132537859 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2018 2 RLTS T22694279A132537859 en Retrieved 12 November 2021 Coulson Ruth Coulson Graeme 1993 03 01 Diets of the Pacific Gull Larus pacificus and the Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus in Tasmania Emu Austral Ornithology 93 1 50 53 Bibcode 1993EmuAO 93 50C doi 10 1071 MU9930050 ISSN 0158 4197 Coulson G M amp Coulson R I March 1983 The significance of rubbish tips as an additional food source for the Kelp Gull and the Pacific Gull in Tasmania PDF Centre for Environmental Studies University of Tasmania a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link Latham John 1801 Supplementum indicis ornithologici sive systematis ornithologiae in Latin London Leigh amp Sotheby p lxviii Pacific Gull native name Troo gad dill First Fleet Artwork Collection The Natural History Museum 2007 Archived from the original on 2009 02 10 Retrieved 2008 08 15 Gill Frank Donsker David eds 2019 Noddies gulls terns auks World Bird List Version 9 2 International Ornithologists Union Retrieved 24 June 2019 Harrison Peter Seabirds An Identification Guide Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 1991 ISBN 978 0 395 60291 1 del Hoyo J Elliot A Sargatal J 1996 Handbook of the Birds of the World Vol 3 Barcelona Lynx Edicions ISBN 84 87334 20 2 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pacific gull amp oldid 1207763204, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
