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PLATE 52: GULLS II
Pallas’s Gull Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus WV
L: 68. W: 158. Very large; adult in summer unmistakable. In winter, has large dusky patch behind
eye; white eye-crescents present in all ages. At rest appears deep-chested, with long sloping
forehead accentuating length of bill. Readily identified in flight, even at extreme range, by
extensive pale-based primaries (upperwing thus tricoloured). Juvenile and first-winter from other
young large gulls by unmarked white rump and tail with clear-cut band at tip, unmarked white
underparts (though juvenile has grey-mottled breast-band or patches at sides, lost in first winter),
white underwing with extensive black wing-tips and often black-tipped coverts forming underwing
lines, pale mid-wing panel above, and head pattern. First-winter told from second-winter Caspian
Gull by size, sharp tail-band, head shape and pattern, dark-mottled hindneck, darker inner primaries
and longer bill. Second-winter still shows fairly distinctive tail-band. Voice Loud and deep but
hoarse, strangulated kra-ah. Habitat Coastal, mostly rare inland. Note Passage and winter hatched.
[Alt: Great Black-headed Gull]White-eyed Gull Ichthyaetus leucophthalmus pm
L: 40. W: 108. From heavier Sooty Gull by long and slender all-dark bill (dark red with black tip in
adult; blackish in immature), which droops at the tip (bill stouter and bicoloured in Sooty); hood
and bib black (dark brown in Sooty), upperparts greyer, with conspicuous white eye-ring at all
ages (faint and narrow in Sooty). Immature similar to Sooty Gull though upperpart feathering less
conspicuously pale-fringed. At distance can be mistaken for a skua. Voice As Sooty Gull but less
harsh and deep. Habitat Coastal; nests colonially on low-lying islands. Note Dispersal throughout
hatched area; rare Oman; vagrant Iran, UAE.Sooty Gull Ichthyaetus hemprichii RB, WV
L: 44. W: 112. Told from similar White-eyed Gull by dark brown hood and bib and thick, straight bill,
which is bicoloured (at all ages) – in adult yellow-green with black band behind red tip; in immature
pale blue-grey with black tip. Narrow white crescent above eye at all ages (seldom also below).
Immature brownish-grey on head, breast and flanks; upperparts brownish with buff feather-edges.
Rather long-winged, relatively short-tailed and front-heavy but with steady flight; underwing dark.
At distance over sea can be mistaken for skua; often piratical on other gulls and terns. Voice Loud
mewing kaarr or keee-aaar; also high-pitched kee-kee-kee. Habitat Coastal; often near ports and
fishing villages; nests on islands or cliffs, mostly colonial. Note Dispersal throughout hatched area;
vagrant Bahrain.Common Gull Larus canus pm, wv
L: 43. W: 115. Recalls small Caspian Gull, but wings narrower and bill distinctly smaller, thinner
and greenish-yellow without red spot. Black wing-tip with prominent white spots, larger area
than in Caspian. In winter, bill has narrow black band near tip; eyes dark. Juvenile resembles
Mediterranean Gull, but with greenish bill, mottled breast, brown markings on underwing and less
contrasting upperwing pattern. In first-winter, back blue-grey, upperwing pattern less contrasting
and bill bicoloured. Voice Alarm call klee-uu with emphasis on last high-pitched note. Habitat
Coastal and inland waters; sometimes fields. Note Passage and winter hatched, rare in south;
vagrant Bahrain, UAE. [Alt: Mew Gull]