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Herring gull belongs to the order of charadriiformes, among all other representatives of the species of birds, it is the most recognizable and common. The distribution area of the gull is so extensive that the majority of ornithologists are convinced that there are a number of closely related birds at once.
Habitat
Predominantly silver gull lives in cool regions, widely inhabiting the Northern Hemisphere. During the period of winter cold, the flocks are sent to the south of China, to the Japanese lands, to Florida, to the Gulf of Mexico. Most often, the gull chooses the British lands, Iceland, Alaska and Eastern America, Canada, Scandinavia as a nesting site.
Given that these birds are extremely dependent on water and food located there, they inhabit coastal zones, dwelling in rocks, swamps, cliffs. The gull was surprisingly able to adapt to living in society, together with people, for this reason it does not stop to build nests on the roofs of buildings, in the attics of houses. Regularly they can be observed in the coastal zone or within the city, which is adjacent to rivers, lakes and seas.
Exterior of the bird
A seagull is a rather large bird. The weight of an adult bird is often more than 1.5 kg, and the length of the body is approximately 60 cm. In the area of the head, neck and body of the seagull there is a plumage of white. On the back and wings color pale gray. The beak at the end is bent, slightly flattened from the sides, yellow. However, under it is a speck of red.
The eyes of the gull are framed by a narrow strip of yellow leather. The iris of the eyes is gray. Remarkably, the plumage color of the gull becomes light only by the fourth year of life. Up to this age, young birds and chicks have a variegated color with a predominance of gray and dark brown shades. Gradually, the plumage becomes brighter after two years of life.The plumage on the head in young birds - representatives of this genus - has a brownish, inconspicuous shade along with the iris of the eyes.
Reproduction nuances and longevity
Herring gull is a monogamous bird. With rare exceptions, they create a pair once and for the entire period of their life. The age of puberty birds reach to five years. Silvery gulls begin to return to their nesting in late April, early May, as soon as the ice comes down from the water surfaces.
During nesting, birds form real flocks and colonies. For the construction of nests gull uses small feathers, scraps of wool. To do this, she chooses secluded places near the cliffs, rocks, in dense bushes.The construction of the nest involved both partners. In addition, as the material used branches of trees, dried algae, moss.
On average, the clutch is from 2 to 4 eggs, whose shade is green-brown or light olive. The eggs, moreover, are covered with large patches of dark brown color. Masonry hatch both partners. In addition, when the female replaces the male, or vice versa, the birds try very carefully and gently to turn the eggs.
After the incubation period, which takes about a month, ends, the offspring hatch into the light. Their small bodies are covered with a grayish fluff, in which specks of dark shades are clearly visible. After a couple of days, the chicks already know how to stand on their feet, and after another two days the little seagulls can leave their nest for a short time, without moving away for a long distance.
If there is a threat nearby, the chicks try to hide, to crouch. At the same time they are quite difficult to distinguish on the surface of the earth. For flight, the chicks are prepared for 40-50 days of life. Both parents take turns feeding their cubs, burping it.Intensively developing chicks mainly eat fish.
Food silver gulls
It should be noted that representatives of this species of birds are omnivorous. Often they can be found near the sea ships and landfills. Sometimes you can even see how a seagull steals eggs from the laying of other birds or foreign chicks.
Silvery gulls for feeding catch mice voles, hamsters, small reptiles and insect larvae. In addition, the gull diet includes berries, cereals, nuts and fruits, fish, worms and crayfish. A larger gull effortlessly selects food from smaller and more timid members of the same breed.
The nuances of "living together" with people
It should immediately indicate that the representatives of this species of birds rather unceremoniously can deal with people. Herring gulls intensively inhabit megacities and large modern buildings, raising their nests right on their roofs. Often she can attack anything that may threaten her offspring. Again, there are regular cases when extremely ohameevshie seagulls right in the city could snatch food from the hands of people.
However, recently the sad tendency to decrease in number of silvery gulls is more and more clearly traced. In Europe, the population size has almost halved. Experts substantiate such a decline in the number of birds by exposure to harmful environmental factors, as well as a reduced volume of fish in the regions adjacent to the shores.
Despite this, the seagulls are predominantly active during the daytime. In some cases, these birds can remain active for a full day. In particular, this is true for those birds that live in high latitudes, which are characterized by a polar day.
Features of the behavior of birds
The gull is distinguished by its specific vocalization. They can make quite a wide range of different sounds. In their arsenal there is a croaking, croaking, howling, and even sounds resembling meowing. However, in most situations from them you can hear screams like laughter.
Herring gulls usually gather in fairly numerous colonies, including up to several hundred pairs. Sometimes you can see more rare, small flocks.Each pair of males and females has a personal area that is under their protection. If the colony is threatened by any enemy from the outside, then all the birds immediately rally to give a proper resistance to the opponent and protect their relatives. But in quiet periods within the colony, conflicts of their own may arise, often ending in attacks.
Remarkable facts
The gull tries in conditions of a colony or a pair to observe clear conditions of hierarchy. The leader and leader will certainly be the male, who will always make decisions and make a choice for his chosen one.The latter will only deal with the problems that may arise in the arrangement and construction of the nest.
In addition, almost every bird that belongs to this species shows a kind of laziness: it prefers not to look for prey and food for itself on its own, making efforts. Silvery gull more satisfied with taking food from other relatives, birds or animals.
Video: herring gull - the difference between young and adult
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