American Herring Gull

Description:

The American herring gull or Smithsonian gull (Larus smithsonianus or Larus argentatus smithsonianus) is a large gull which breeds in North America where it is treated by the American Ornithologists Union as a subspecies of herring gull (L. argentatus is a heavily built large gull with a long powerful bill, full chest and sloping forehead. Males are (24–26 in) long and weigh (2.31–3.64 lb). Females are (21–24 in) long and weigh (1.3–2.0 lb).). Adults are white with gray back and wings, black wingtips with white spots, and pink legs. Immature birds are gray-brown and are darker and more uniform than European herring gulls, with a darker tail.

Habitat:

-The breeding range extends across the northern part of North America from central and southern Alaska to the Great Lakes and northeast coast of the USA from Marine south to North Carolina. It breeds over most of Canada apart from the southwest and Arctic regions. Birds are present all year in southern Alaska, the Great Lakes and north-east USA but most birds winter to the south of the breeding range as far as Mexico with small numbers reaching Hawaii, Central America and the West Indies. Vagrants have reached Colombia and Venezuela and there is a report from Ecuador and another from Peru.It occurs in a variety of habitats including coasts, lakes, rivers and garbage dumps; It usually nests near water, laying around three eggs in a scrape on the ground. Diet: • Its diet includes invertebrates, fish and many other items. • It often feeds on carrion and human refuse. • Food is plucked from the surface of the shore or sea or is caught by dipping underwater or by shallow plunge diving.

Notes:

Shahad Yahya BIO 102-01W Mr. Zahn Date: 02/25/15 Student Assignment Number: 30