| י245) שחף עיטי | ||||||||||
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:שחף עיטי . שחף גדול ניכר במקורו הגדול והחזק . בקיץ הוא היחיד בין השחפים הגדולים שראשו כהה . טבעת עינו אדומה מבריקה וסביבה טבעת לבנה . מקורו צהוב כתום בבסיסו ואדום בקצהו , הצואר והגחון לבנים, חלקי הגוף העליונים אפרפרים . בקיץ מלבד ראשו הכהה, אברות הכנף לבנות ובסמוך לקצותיהן כתמים שחורים . בחורף ראשו מלבין ונשארים עליו כתמים חומים באזור העין והעורף . בית גידולו חופי ים, נהרות גדולים, נמלים, ברכות דיג וערמות אשפה . מקנן באיים חשופים באגמי מים מתוקים או מלוחים למחצה . זהו שחף אלים שתוקף וחומס את טרפם של שחפים ועופות מים אחרים , די שכיח בשנים האחרונות כמבקר חורף בעיקר בצפון הארץ . בארץ עובר אורח נדיר באזורים הנמוכים במזרח הארץ ... ואת השחף ... ויקרא י"א, 16 | ||||||||||
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Subspecies and Distribution.
Larus ichthyaetus Breeds in a few very small, scattered localities from Black Sea to Balkhash to Mongolia, possibly also China and Tibet. Winters on coasts of E Mediterranean, Red Sea, S Caspian Sea and N Indian Ocean to Myanmar and Ethiopia. םםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםם םםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםם | ||||||||||
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Descriptive notes.
One of the largest gulls, averaging nearly as large as Great Black-backed Gull. 60-70 cm, 900-2000 g, wingspan 155-170 cm. Typical hooded appearance, black from face and throat to nape, with conspicuous white eye-crescents. Mantle pearl grey. Upperwing coverts very pale grey. Flight feathers mostly white, primaries with conspicuous black subterminal marks an white tips. Bill large, orange-yellow, becoming reddish distally, with subterminal black band and yellow tip. Legs greenish yellow, with orange webs. Iris brown, with thin red orbital ring. Habitat. Breeds on barren islands in fresh and saline lakes and inland seas in generally arid areas, preferring saline soils. Outside breeding season coasts and major rivers, harbours, fish ponds, rubbish dumps. Food and FeedingMain diet based on fish and crustaceans, as well as insects, small mammals, birds, eggs and reptiles. In cooler weather eats seeds.Frequently piratical on a variety of species. Follows fishing boats and takes fish offal in harbours. One of most solitary gulls. Often flies long distances from colonies to feed aerially on swarming insects. Food and Feeding. Main diet based on fish and crustaceans, as well as insects, small mammals, birds, eggs and reptiles. In cooler weather eats seeds. Frequently piratical on a variety of species. Follows fishing boats and takes fish offal in harbours. One of most solitary gulls. Often flies long distances from colonies to feed aerially on swarming insects. Breeding. Lays from early Apr. Colonies up to 3000 pairs, sometimes near but not among L. argentatus. Colonies often dense, with nest rims 40 cm apart, especially in center of colony. Nest of dried aquatic plants and feathers, often on bare rock substrate, sometimes among reeds or other vegetation, or vegetated sand dunes. 2 eggs, incubation 25 days, female sitting for longer spells than male. Chick creamy buff of silvery white. First breeding usually not until 4 years. Movements. Migratory. Locally fairly common migrant and winter visitor in Nepal. Recently found to migrate through Red Sea to islands and Ethiopian Rift Valley. Some movement W to Meddle East and E Mediterranean (Israel), where apparently much scarcer now than 50 years ago. Immatures may remain in wintering range. Winters mainly on S Caspian Sea, with smaller nunbers in Israel, Ethiopia, Persian Gulf, S Iran, Pakistan, India and Myanmar. Status and Conservation. Not globally threatened. total population unknown, 25.000 pairs in Azerbaijan until middle 20th century. Israel. In Israel subspecies Larus ichthyaetus.Straggler to Mediterranean shore. Scarce visitor to Gulf of Eilat, with fewer scattered throughout rest of year. |
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