White-eyed Gull (L. leucophthalmus) & Sooty Gull (L. hemprichii)

(last update: 2-2-2011)

Coordinators:
Avi Meir (Israel)
Mars Muusse (the Netherlands)

White-eyed Gull leucophthalmus - adult March

Because of the endangered status of this species, BirdLife International created a species "fact sheet" on their website. This BirdLife International (2011) Species factsheet "Larus leucophthalmus" is copied here.

Justification This species is listed as Near Threatened because it is expected to experience a moderately rapid population decline in the next three generations (33 years) owing to a number of threats including introduced predators, oil-spills, the harvest of eggs and chicks and disturbance. If the population was found to be declining more rapidly, the species might qualify for a higher threat category.

Taxonomic source(s) AERC TAC (2003), Cramp and Simmons (1977-1994), Dowsett and Forbes-Watson (1993), Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993)

Identification 41 cm. A rather dark gull with black head in adult plumage. Adult has grey back, complete black hood with an almost continuous white eye ring and rather long, dark red bill. Juvenile is brown above with a brownish wash on head, breast and flanks; the bill is black and there is a black tail band. All ages have a dark underwing. Similar spp. Told from Sooty Gull Larus hemprichii by slightly smaller size, and, in adult plumage, all-black hood and bib, dark grey upperparts, all-dark bill (dark red with black tip, unlike two-tone bill of Sooty Gull) and conspicuous white eye-ring. Hints Often associates with Sooty and other gulls around fishing ports on the Red Sea.

Distribution and population Larus leucophthalmus breeds colonially on inshore islands and islets in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea,
in Egypt (2,500 pairs5, mainly on islands at the mouth of the Gulf of Suez2),
Sudan
(300-1,000 pairs5),
Eritrea
(1,400 adults in the Dahlak Archipelago in 1962),
Djibouti
(600-700 pairs5),
Saudi Arabia (more than 1,500 pairs5),
Yemen
(at least 3,900 pairs5) and
Somalia
(1,200-2,200 pairs5), with wintering birds dispersing throughout the breeding range.
The total population is estimated as 12,000-13,000 breeding pairs (36,000-39,000 individuals)6, excluding Eritrea, equating to 37,000-44,000 individuals overall5; it is believed to be stable4.

Population justification PERSGA/GEF (2003) estimated 12,000-13,000 breeding pairs (36,000-39,000 individuals), excluding Eritrea, equating to 37,000-44,000 individuals overall (Shobrak et al. 2003).

Trend justification The population is believed to be stable (Rose and Scott 1997).

Ecology Behaviour This species is mostly sedentary7, 8, although it disperses from its breeding sites to occur throughout the Red Sea during the non-breeding season9. There may also be some southward and eastward movement during this time, when it is reported to become scarce in the northern part of its range8. Breeding takes place during the months of June - August, extending to September in Egypt8. It breeds in loose colonies, usually consisting of fewer than 25 pairs, though occasionally larger colonies of hundreds of individuals are known to occur7. During the non-breeding season it is usually found in small groups, but sometimes forms flocks of hundreds or even thousands to forage7.
Habitat
The species is mainly coastal. It usually feeds at sea6, but some Egyptian populations have adopted a scavenging role at rubbish tips and harbours3. Breeding It breeds on inshore islands, where it occupies bare rock and sand flats7. Non-breeding Outside the breeding season it often occurs further out to sea7. It roosts on rocks, coral reefs, piers and fishing vessels7.
Diet The diet consists largely of fish, but also includes crustaceans, molluscs, annelids and offal6,7. Fish species taken in Egypt include Scarpus species about 110mm in length8. It also feeds on fruits and plants such as Nitraria retusa8, and is known to predate the eggs and nestlings of the Lesser Crested Tern Sterna bengalensis8. It scavenges in the northern part of its range, but to a lesser extent than does L. hemprichii with which it often associates7,8.
Breeding Site
Nests occur on bare rock, sand or exposed flats7. On sandy substrates the nest consists of a conspicuous ring of twigs, seaweed and debris8. On rocky islands it consists of a small pad of vegetable matter beside rocks8. It may alternatively consist of a scrape among impenetrable Euphorbia clumps8. It lays two or three eggs7.

Threats There are a variety of potential threats, against which it is not secure. It is permanently at serious risk from introduced predators on the breeding islands (e.g. rats) and from floating and beached oil-spills7, and is also under pressure from egg- and chick-collecting (especially in Somalia1,6), disturbance by fishermen and tourists (and related building) and oil exploration.7. It is known to be affected by West Nile virus10

Conservation measures underway CMS Appendix I and II.

Conservation measures proposed Monitor population trends. Control the harvest of eggs and chicks. Prevent the introduction of mammalian predators to breeding colonies and control them where this has taken place. Enforce measures to prevent and mitigate oil-spills. Enforce measures to control disturbance. Ensure the majority of breeding colonies are protected.

References
1.
Ash and Miskell (1998). 2. Baha El Din (1999). 3. S. Baha El Din verbally to A. Grieve (1999). 4. Rose and Scott (1997). 5. Shobrak et al. (2003). 6. PERSGA/GEF (2003). 7. del Hoyo et al. (1996).8. Urban et al. (1986). 9. Olsen and Larsson (2004). 10. Rappole and Hubálek (2003).

Click for a full list of reference citations.

Further web sources of information

Red List.

Text account compilers Stuart Butchart, Mike Evans, Andrew O'Brien, John Pilgrim, Sue Shutes, Malcolm Starkey and Joe Taylor (BirdLife International).

Contributors S. Baha El Din and A. Grieve.

IUCN Red List evaluators Joe Taylor (BirdLife International), Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2011) Species factsheet: Larus leucophthalmus. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 16/06/2011. Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2011) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 16/06/2011.

This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM and BirdLife International (2008) Threatened birds of the world 2008 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List.

To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife

To contribute to discussions on the evaluation of the IUCN Red List status of Globally Threatened Birds, please visit BirdLife's Globally Threatened Bird Forums.

Adult White-eyed Gull, March 28 2008, Eilat, Israel. Picture Avi Meir.
Adult White-eyed Gull, March 31 2008, Eilat, Israel. Picture Avi Meir.
Adult White-eyed Gull, March 31 2008, Eilat, Israel. Picture Avi Meir.
Adult White-eyed Gull, March 14 2011, Eilat, Israel. Picture Avi Meir.
Adult White-eyed Gull, March 10 2011, Eilat, Israel. Picture Avi Meir.
Adult White-eyed Gull, March 06 2010, Eilat, Israel. Picture Avi Meir.
Adult White-eyed Gull, March 04 2011, Eilat, Israel. Picture Amir Ben Dov.
Adult White-eyed Gull, March 04 2011, Eilat, Israel. Picture Amir Ben Dov.
Adult White-eyed Gull, March 04 2011, Eilat, Israel. Picture Amir Ben Dov.
Adult White-eyed Gull, March 04 2011, Eilat, Israel. Picture Amir Ben Dov.
Adult White-eyed Gull, March 04 2011, Eilat, Israel. Picture Amir Ben Dov.
Adult White-eyed Gull, March 04 2011, Eilat, Israel. Picture Amir Ben Dov.
Adult White-eyed Gull, March 04 2011, Eilat, Israel. Picture Amir Ben Dov.
Adult White-eyed Gull, March 04 2011, Eilat, Israel. Picture Amir Ben Dov.
Adult White-eyed Gull, March 04 2011, Eilat, Israel. Picture Amir Ben Dov.
Adult White-eyed Gull, March 15 2008, Eilat, Israel. Picture Dubi Kalai.
Adult White-eyed Gull, March 15 2008, Eilat, Israel. Picture Dubi Kalai.
Adult White-eyed Gull, March 15 2008, Eilat, Israel. Picture Dubi Kalai.
Adult White-eyed Gull, March 04 2002, visitor's centre of Nabq National Park, SE Sinai, Egypt.