| י234) שחף לבן-עין | ||||||||||
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:שחף לבן-עין , שחף בינוני בגודלו, דומה לשחף כהה . נבדל ממנו בראשו וגרונו השחורים ובטבעת הלבנה סביב עינו . המקור אדום וקצהו שחור, ארוך וכפוף במקצת . אברות הכנף שחורות ואברות האמה אפורות וקצותן לבנות . רגליו צהובות עם גוון כתום, הכנף ארוכה, צרה ומחודדת וזנבו מעוגל . בית גידולו חופי ים סוף ואיים קטנים בקרבתו כולל איי אלמוגים . בארץ מבקר נדיר בחוף אילת בעיקר באביב ובקיץ, נודד באקראי לחוף ים התיכון ... ואת השחף ... ויקרא י"א, 16 | ||||||||||
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Subspecies and Distribution.
Larus leucophthalmus Red Sea from Gulf of Suez and Gulf of Aqaba S into Gulf of Aden. םםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםם םםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםם | ||||||||||
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Descriptive notes.
35-40 cm, 270-400 g, wingspan 110 cn. Dark backed gull, characterized by black head and upper breast with thin, slightly drooped bill. Conspicuous white crescents above and below eye, dark grey underwing, legs bright yellow, iris dark brown, with red orbital ring. Separated from Sooty Gull by slender red bil with black tip, white eye crescents, and paler upper breast sharply demarcated from hood. Habitat. Coastal. Breeding especially on inshore islands, where occupies bare rock and sand flats. Less closely linked with fishing boats and harbours than Sooty Gull, thus often occurs further out to sea. Roosts on rocks, coral reefs, piers and fishing vessels. Food and Feeding. LMainly fish. also some molluscs, crabs and annelids, sometimes fruits. Feeds mainly by plunge diving from surface. Less of a scavenger then Sooty Gull, but occasionally scavenges in harbours. Forages offshore in non-breeding season, usually in small groups, but sometimes gathers in folcks of hundreds of even thousands. Breeding. Jul-Aug. Loosely colonial, in groups of about dozen to hundreds. Nest on bare rock, sand, or exposed flats near sea, shallow scrape, lined with seaweed and debris. 2-3 eggs, incubation unknown. Chick greyish buff above with dark spots and streaks. Movements. Sedentary. some dispersal and wandering, both N and S. Adults tend to remain along Red Sea coast. Small numbers seen troughout year at Elat. Status and Conservation. Vulnerable. Status poorly known. Total population estimated at 6.500 pairs in 1985. Israel. In Israel subspecies Larus leucophthalmus. Scarce as wandering spring and summer visitor to Gulf of Eilat. |
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