| י247) שחף אפור-ראש | ||||||||||
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:שחף אפור-ראש . שחף גבוה וכחוש בעל מקור ארוך , פניו וצוארו אפורים תחומים בקו שחור דק. צווארו גופו וזנבו לבנים . "כנפיו אפורות ותחתיתם כהה עם "חלונות לבנים . מקורו אדום וקצהו שחור. רגליו בצבע אדום-ורוד בוהק . עיניו צהובות בהירות מוקפות עיגול אדום , בית גידולו חופי ים טרופיים וסובטרפיים, איים בלב ים . אגמים ונהרות בפנים היבשת. מקנן על איים סלעיים . בארץ מזדמן אקראי נדיר ביותר באילת ... ואת השחף ... ויקרא י"א, 16 | ||||||||||
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Subspecies and Distribution.
L. c. cirrocephalus Coastal Ecuador and Peru, to coastal C Brazilt to Argentina and Paraguay. L. c. poiocephalus Widely scattered localities from Ethiopia to Malawi and S Africa. םםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםם םםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםם | ||||||||||
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Descriptive notes.
Tall, lanky, gull with long bill, neck and legs. 43 cm, 250-330 g, wingspan 102 cm. Face and throat gry, bordered with a narrow black line from hindcrown to lower throat. Neck, tail and underparts white, a few birds faintly tinged pink below in spring. Mantle and wings grey. Underwing coverts dusky, primaries mainly black,with small white windows. Bill red, tipped black. Legs bright pinkish red. Iris yellowish white, with bright red orbital ring. Slightly larger than Larus ridibundus, and has darker underwing and different wingtip pattern. Habitat. Breeds on rocky islands, earthen dikes, but rarely on coastal dunes. In Africa, estuaries, harbours, fresh and alkaline lakes. Outside breeding season, tropical and subtropical coasts, offshore islands, and inland lakes and rivers. Food and FeedingMain diet based on fish and invertebrates, occasionally termites. Scavenges broken flamingo eggs and dead fish.In winter, scavenges refuse, dead fish and fish scraps. Feeds by plunge-diving, seizes small surface invertebrates while swimming and takes insects by aerial hawking. 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. May in South America, Apr-May in W Africa. Colonial. Nest on bare ground, in clumps of reeds or papyrus, or on floating vegetation. Shallow scrape lined with dry grass and bits of vegetation, to well built cup of rushes and grasses. 2-3 eggs incubation undocumented. Chick buffy yellow, spotted black on head and upperparts. Movements. Most populations are residents or disperse short distances, usually moving to coasts. Birds from Natal move along Atlantic or Indian Ocean coasts. Dispersal apparent along coasts of W Africa and Argentina. Vagrant recorded N Panama, and to Spain and N Red Sea. Status and Conservation. Not globally threatened. World population reckoned to be under 50.000 pairs. Israel. In Israel subspecies L. c. poiocephalus. Straggler in spring at Eilat. |
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