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

(last update: 2-2-2011)

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 sedentary^{7, 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 offal^6,7. 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 associates^7,8.
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 Somalia^1,6), 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).

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.

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