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Common Gull Larus canus [Linnaeus, 1758]
Other Names
Trends & Distribution
Breeding & Survival
Biometrics
Books & Links
Order:
Charadriiformes
Family:
Laridae
BTO Codes:
CM , COMGU
EURING No:
5900
Number in Britain:
48 thousand pairs (Summer)
Conservation Status:
UK:
AMBER
European:
2 Concern, most in Europe; Depleted
Global:
Least Concern
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Status in UK:
(A) Migrant/Resident Breeder, Passage/Winter Visitor
Subspecies:
canus (RBW), heinei (V) recorded in Britain (of 4 subsp. in the world)
.
Length:
41 cm
Wingspan:
120 cm
Weight:
M/F: 400 g
Scientific name from:
Gr.: laros =a seabird
and L.: canus =grey
World Distribution:
BREEDS: n&c Europe, n&c Asia, n North America WINTERS: south to n Africa, c Asia & ne US
Habitat:
Seacoasts, lakes, rivers, moor
Diet:
Invertebrates, some fish, preference for foraging on ground
TitBit:
The 'classic' gull of school sports fields, they have a habit of walking on the spot, or paddling, which apparently mimics the patter of rain and encourages worms to come to the surface
Population and Distribution
Population Trend:
No population trend available
Distribution:
New Atlas )
British Population Size:
Summer:
48 thousand pairs
in 1998-02
Winter:
670 to 721 thousand indviduals
in 1993
First Record:
15th Century
[Fossil evidence from
Devensian (last) glaciation, 10-120,000 yr ago]
Latest Survey:
Mitchell, P.I. et al. (2004) Seabird populations of Britain and Ireland Poyser, London
Habitat Occupancy (in the Breeding Season):
No habitat data from BBS
European Population Size:
Summer:
340 to 500 thousand pairs
Birds in Europe
Listed on the Appendices/Schedules of:
WBD(II*), Bern(III)
Survey Results:
Breeding and Survival
Egg Size:
59 x 41 mm
Egg Weight:
53.5 g (of which 6 % is shell)
Number of Nest Records:
225
Clutch Size:
3 eggs
2.58 ± 0.57 (2 - 5) N = 5917
Incubation:
22 - 28 days
by the:
Male + Female
Fledging:
34 - 36 days
as:
Semi-precocial, downy
First Clutches Laid:
Unavailable
Number of Broods:
1
Number Ringed:
2546
Adult Survival:
0.86
Juvenile Survival:
0.24 (to age 3 )
Age at First Breeding:
3
years
Typical Lifespan:
10
years
Maximum Recorded Age:
22yr6m
(Denmark: 33yr 8m)
Biometrics
Ring Size:
E
Wing Length
Adult:
358.3 ± 16.1
Range
336 - 380 mm, N =1555
Juvenile:
345.7 ± 13.9
331 - 363 mm, N =42
Male:
Insufficient Data
Female:
Insufficient Data
Weight
Adult:
406.8 ± 52.28
Range
328.0 - 497.0 g , N =1394
Juvenile:
360.6 ± 58.26
280.0 - 457.0 g , N =39
Male:
Insufficient Data
Female:
Insufficient Data
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Ringing Scheme data
Other Names
Mew Gull
Gaelic:
Faoileag-bheag-an-sgadain
Welsh:
Gwylan y Gweunydd
Danish:
Stormmåge
Dutch:
Stormmeeuw
Finnish:
Kalalokki
French:
Goéland cendré
German:
Sturmmöwe
Hungarian:
Viharsirály
Icelandic:
Stormmáfur
Irish:
Faoileán Bán
Italian:
Gavina
Norwegian:
Fiskemåke
Polish:
Mewa pospolita
Portuguese:
Alcatraz-pardo
Spanish:
Gaviota cana
Swedish:
Fiskmås
Local Names: Cob, Blue/Tinna Maa
For More Information...
Books and Monographs:
Buckcicinski, D.B. & Buckcicinska, M.B. 2003 BWP Update 5:13-39
See Also:
All About Birds (Cornell Lab of Ornithology)
Gough, G.A. et al. (1998) Patuxent Bird Identification Infocenter
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