Belcher's Gull
Larus belcheri
Rather large, dark-backed gull along the Humboldt Current coast. Fairly common to locally common, favoring fishing harbors, beaches, and river mouths; ranges over inshore coastal waters and not found inland. All ages have a broad, clean-cut black tail band and a red-and-black bill tip. Breeding adult has clean white head and lacks the white spots in wingtip seen on the larger and bulkier Kelp Gull. Immature and nonbreeding plumages have a distinctive dark hood and yellowish legs.
Identification
Belcher's gull grows to a length of about 49 centimetres (19 in). The sexes are similar in appearance and in the breeding season, the adult has a white head and very pale grey neck and underparts. The mantle and back are greyish-black and the tail is white with a broad black subterminal band and a white trailing edge. The wing coverts and primaries are black and the secondaries dark grey with white tips. The eye is black, the bill yellow with a distinctive red and black tip, and the legs and feet yellow. Outside the breeding season the head is dark brown with a white ring surrounding the eye. The juvenile is mottled brown and white and attains the adult plumage during its third year. Belcher's gull can be confused with the slightly larger kelp gull (Larus dominicanus), but that species has a small white tip on its otherwise black wing and lacks the black tail band found on Belcher's gull.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Larus belcheri
- Authority
- Vigors, 1829
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Family
- Laridae
- Genus
- Larus
Range and habitat
Belcher's gull is found on the Pacific coast of South America. Its range extends from northern Peru to northern Chile in the area influenced by the Humboldt Current and its habitat includes rocky shores, bays and offshore islands. It ventures several kilometres offshore to forage and also feeds on rocky shores when the tide is out. It is a non-migratory species.
- Breeding range
- SA : w coast and islets of South America from n Peru to n Chile
- Non-breeding range
- some move to coasts of n Ecuador and c Chile
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Belcher's gull is an omnivore and scavenger. It feeds on fish, crabs, molluscs and carrion, and seasonally on the eggs and nestlings of seabirds. It often associates with Guanay cormorants, pestering them until they regurgitate their prey which it then consumes.<p>Breeding takes place from December onwards in small colonies of up to one hundred pairs. The nest is a scrape in the sand or among rocks near the high tide line. There are usually three eggs averaging 65 by 45 mm (2.6 by 1.8 in), pale blotched with dark olive markings.
Conservation
- Population trend
- rising
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Ducula chalconota
A fairly large pigeon of montane forest interior. Green rump, pale orange chest, deep rufous belly and black band in the tail. Forages for fruit, singly or in pairs in the upper or mid-canopy. Similar to Purple-tailed Imperial-Pigeon but Rufescent occurs at higher elevations and has more extensive gray on the sides of the neck. Papuan Mountain-Pigeon more likely to co-occur but Rufescent lacks the white chest and has green rather than grey back. Not very vocal. Call a mournful downslurred “wooo”.
Crinkle-collared Manucode
Manucodia chalybatus
A large bird of foothill and lower montane forest and scrub. All black with red eye, fairly long bill and tail. Purplish-blue iridescence on wings and tail and iridescent scaling on the chest and back. Shy, but sometimes seen at fruiting trees. Very similar to Jobi Manucode, but Crinkle-collared is usually found at higher elevations and has a characteristic bump on its head. Trumpet Manucode co-occurs but is smaller and has a loose mane of feathers around its neck. Voice, a low raspy “raag!” or low “oowak-oo!”. Call note is a low “wak!”.
Orange-fronted Fruit-Dove
Ptilinopus aurantiifrons
A small fruit-dove of mangroves and disturbed forests in the lowlands. Bright orange forehead, white throat, gray chest which extends around the back of the neck, and pale purple spots on the wing. Small flocks often seen flying quickly over mangroves. Superficially similar to Beautiful Fruit-Dove, but Orange-fronted Fruit-Dove is found in more disturbed habitats and has a green rather than yellow belly and no dark red band. Call described as a series of soft “hoo” notes.
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