black-billed gull (juvenile) - Larus bulleri
Photographed at Ashley Estuary, Canterbury New Zealand.
One of the rarest gulls in the world, black-billed gull are
endemic to New Zealand. The majority of the population (78%) breeds in Southland. Mostly a freshwater inland river and lake gull but also found out to the coast especially estuaries. Some birds remain at colonies throughout the year, others move from inland breeding sites to the coasts. While still regarded as common, large declines on their populations on traditional stronghold breeding rivers in Southland is a concern.
Identification
37 cm. Pale grey-and-white gull. Adult, pale, silvery-grey back and wings. Thinly black-bordered wing-tips. White underparts. Long, thin, black bill. Black to reddish-black legs and feet. White eye. Juvenile, more extensive black on wing-tips. Pale, flesh bill with dark tip. Pinkish to reddish-black legs. Brown eye. Similar spp. Red-billed Gull L. novaehollandiae has shorter, deeper bill - red in adults, darker grey wings, more extensive black on wing-tips.
black-billed gull (juvenile) - Larus bulleri
Photographed at Ashley Estuary, Canterbury New Zealand.
One of the rarest gulls in the world, black-billed gull are
endemic to New Zealand. The majority of the population (78%) breeds in Southland. Mostly a freshwater inland river and lake gull but also found out to the coast especially estuaries. Some birds remain at colonies throughout the year, others move from inland breeding sites to the coasts. While still regarded as common, large declines on their populations on traditional stronghold breeding rivers in Southland is a concern.
Identification
37 cm. Pale grey-and-white gull. Adult, pale, silvery-grey back and wings. Thinly black-bordered wing-tips. White underparts. Long, thin, black bill. Black to reddish-black legs and feet. White eye. Juvenile, more extensive black on wing-tips. Pale, flesh bill with dark tip. Pinkish to reddish-black legs. Brown eye. Similar spp. Red-billed Gull L. novaehollandiae has shorter, deeper bill - red in adults, darker grey wings, more extensive black on wing-tips.