Page 431 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

WADERS/SKUAS, GULLS,AND TERNS
Family Scolopacidae Species Phalaropus tricolor Family Laridae Species Larus genei
Wilson’s Phalarope Slender-billed Gull
The largest phalarope, and most prone to feed on mud, This looks very like the Black-headed Gull (see p.206),
Wilson’s is slender but short-legged, less elegant on except for the fact that it has a white head: there is no
land than when swimming. In summer, a striking dark trace of a hood. It has a rather thick, long, orange-red
band curves back from the eye and down the neck. In to blackish bill and long, orange-red legs. Juveniles
winter, the back is pale grey, and there is only a hint of have weak brown markings on the wings and a narrow
the neck stripe. Immatures have dark feathers with tail band.A close view reveals a pale eye (unlike any
buff edges on the upperparts, and yellowish legs.All similar gulls), but this is hard to see at any distance.
have a long, fine, straight bill and a white OCCURRENCE Rare breeder, locally along white
rump in flight.Yellowlegs and Wood Mediterranean coastal area; vagrant elsewhere. head
Sandpipers (see p.185) are very similar. VOICE Low, strained version of Black-
OCCURRENCE Vagrant to long, headed Gull calls.
W Europe from North America, fine bill
in late spring and autumn. ADULT (SUMMER)
VOICE Short, nasal
vit in flight.

ADULT long red
(WINTER) pale legs to black
long, orange- bill
red legs

Length 22–24cm (9–9 1 ⁄2in) Wingspan 38–44cm (15–17 1 ⁄2in) Length 37–42cm (14 1 ⁄2 –16 1 ⁄2in) Wingspan 90–102cm (35–40in)

Family Laridae Species Larus philadelphia Family Laridae Species Larus delawarensis
Bonaparte’s Gull Ring-billed Gull
Resembling a small, delicate Black-headed Gull (see Like a stocky Common Gull (see p.207), but paler
p.206), Bonaparte’s has a slim, black bill like a Little above, the Ring-billed Gull has less white between the
Gull’s (see p.213) and a light, airy flight like a tern’s. Its grey of the back and black wingtip, a pale eye (looking
upperwing is like a Black-headed’s (with a white outer dark at a distance), and a thicker bill, with a black band
triangle and black trailing edge), but the underwing is near the tip.The legs are greenish to yellow. One-year
pure white except for a sharp, thin, black edge towards olds are more spotted on the neck and flanks, the
the tip.Adults in summer have slaty-black hoods; in black tail band less clear-cut.
winter and on immatures, the head is white with a OCCURRENCE Rare vagrant in
black band
dark ear-spot. Juveniles have a darker diagonal band NW Europe, regular in SW
on thick bill
across the wing coverts and darker trailing edge than Britain, from North America.
a Black-headed Gull. VOICE Raucous, squealing calls.
black slim
OCCURRENCE Rare vagrant to hood black
W Europe from North America. bill pale grey
back
VOICE High, sharp, tern-like notes pale
ADULT
and squealing calls. (SUMMER) iris
ADULT
(SUMMER) yellowish
legs

Length 31–34cm (12–13 1 ⁄2in) Wingspan 79–84cm (31–33in) Length 41–49cm (16–19 1 ⁄2in) Wingspan 1.12–1.24m (3 3 ⁄4 –4ft)
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