The Great black-headed gull, also called Pallas’s gull (Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus), is a big bird species commonly placed in the Larus genus, like many other gulls. The origin of its scientific name comes from Ancient Greek, where Ichthyaetus is derived from ikhthus, meaning “fish,” and aetos, which means “eagle.”
The particular bird species is known to reproduce in marshes and islands found in southern Russia stretching towards Mongolia. During the migration season, it flies to winter destinations situated in the eastern areas of the Mediterranean, Arabia, and India. As for the nesting process, they lay approximately two to four eggs and build their nests on the ground.
The bird in question is only seen occasionally in western Europe, as it is not a permanent resident there. In Great Britain, the only recorded sighting deemed credible was back in 1859. However, the bird has been spotted as a vagrant in various locations in the Indian Ocean, outside of its typical range, as well as along the northern and eastern shores of Africa, where it makes irregular annual visits.
The world’s largest black-headed gull and the third largest species of gull in the world is the subject of this description. It is a sizeable bird measuring 55-72 cm (22-28 in) in length with an impressive wingspan of 142 to 170 cm (56 to 67 in). In terms of weight, it can range from 0.96-2.1 kg (2.1-4.6 lb), with males averaging at 1.6 kg (3.5 lb) and females at 1.22 kg (2.7 lb). Its wing chord measures 43.5 to 52 cm (17.1 to 20.5 in), its bill is 4.7 to 7.3 cm (1.9 to 2.9 in), and its tarsus ranges from 6.5 to 8.4 cm (2.6 to 3.3 in). During summer, adults are easy to identify due to their black hood, which is unique among gulls of this size. Their wings and back are grey, with prominent white “mirrors” at the wingtips. They have yellow legs and an orangey-yellow bill with a red tip.
The Pallas’s gull is identifiable by the dark mask around their eyes which represents the remnants of their hood. Their call is a deep and distinct “aargh” sound. While young birds quickly develop grey upperparts, it takes four years for them to reach maturity.
In terms of their ecological behavior, these birds emit a flight-call that resembles that of the lesser black-backed gull, and they tend to be relatively quiet when breeding. Although they can be noisy in colonies, Pallas’s gulls are predatory hunters that consume a variety of prey including fish, crustaceans, insects, and even small mammals.
The Pallas’s gull falls under the AEWA agreement which aims to protect migratory waterbirds in Africa and Eurasia.
