1. Caspian gull – Larus cachinnans
Caspian gull is a large bird with a body length of 55-67 cm, a wingspan of 138-155 cm, and a weight of 700-1200 g. In an adult, the plumage of the upper body is dark-gray, the bottom of the body is white, there is a characteristic bang on the head. Caspian gull has a long, straight beak and long, thin legs.
Caspian gull is common in Europe, Asia and Africa. In Ukraine, it nests throughout the territory, except for the Crimea.
Caspian gull is a migratory bird. It winters in Africa, South Asia and Australia. The Caspian gull nests on the banks of rivers, lakes and other reservoirs, among reeds or other coastal vegetation. It builds its nests on the ground, in a small pit. There are 3-5 eggs in the clutch of the Caspian gull. The eggs are incubated by the female and the male in turn. Chicks hatch after 28-30 days. After hatching, the chicks grow quickly and begin to fly after a few weeks.
The black-headed gull feeds on small invertebrates such as insects, mollusks, crustaceans, and worms. It can also eat small fish, frogs, and other small animals.
Caspian gull is a fairly common species, but in some regions its number is decreasing. The reasons for this are pollution of water bodies, destruction of coastal plants and poaching.
In Ukraine, Caspian gull is listed in the Red Book in the status of "Invaluable".
Photo: Volodymyr Kucherenko