| י250) שחף שחור-ראש | ||||||||||
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:שחף שחור-ראש . שחף קטן דומה לשחף אגמים אך מגושם יותר מקורו עבה, נראה נוטה כלפי מטה, אדום, סמוך לקצהו . טבעת שחורה. בקצה הלסת התחתונה כתם צהוב . בקיץ ראשו וגרונו שחורים, בחורף נותר רק כתם כהה ליד אזנו . מסביב עיניו סהרונים לבנים . קצות כנפיו לבנים, למתבגר בשנה השניה קצות הכנפים שחורים . בית גידולו חופי ים, שפכי נהרות, ביצות, אגמים בפנים היבשת, שדות ומשטחי עשב . דוגר בחופי ים התיכון והים השחור . בארץ חורף נדיר ומזדמן נדיר יותר בחופי ים התיכון, מזדמן גם באילת ... ואת השחף ... ויקרא י"א, 16 | ||||||||||
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Subspecies and Distribution.
Larus melanocephalus Blac Sea of Ukraine, with recent spread to N Caucasian Plains and Azerbaijan, also at scattered localities throughout Europe, Netherlands, S France, Italy, Greece and Turkey, also limited breeding in S England, belgium, NE Germany, NE Spain and C Europe. Winters in Mediterranean, Black Sea, NW Europe and NW Africa. םםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםם םםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםם | ||||||||||
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Descriptive notes.
Head black, with prominent white eye-crescents. 37 cm, 215-350 g, wingspan 100-105 cm. Neck white, upperparts very pale grey, flight-feathers white, with outer web of outer primary black, tail white, underparts white. Bill scarlet, with variable dark subterminal band, often mainly on lower mandible, and often with yellow tip. Legs bright red, iris blackish brown, with red orbital ring. Difers from L. redibundus in full black hood covering most of nape, bulkier body, larger head, heavier bill, paler general appearance, lack of black at wingtip. Habitat. Breeds on Mediterranean coasts, costal lagoons, steppe lakes and marshes in open lowland areas, favouring sparse vegetation, but generally avoiding barren sand. After breeding season mainly on coasts, estuaries, harbours, marshes, inland lakes, fields and grasslands. Appears able to adapt more readily than many other species to new habits, both breeding and wintering. Food and Feeding. In breeding season, diet based on aquatic and terrestrial insects, also gastropods and small numbers of fish, worms and some rodents. Flocks descend on agricultural fields when abundant insect pests are detected. May fly up to 80 km from colony to feed on grassland. On migration and in winter, when shifts to coasts and harbours, consumes fish, molluscs and offal, occasionally sewage and refuse. Feeds by aerial hawking, surface-plunging, contact-dipping, and picking from water surface while swimming. Walks and runs after prey on ground. Breeding. Laying first half of May. Colonies usually under 1000 pairs, occasionally single pairs in colonies of other species. Chick spotted brown, grey and buff on head, with 2-3 broad brown bands on buffish back, and pale greyish to pinkish buff underparts. First breeding at 2-3 years. Movements. Migratory, with main wintering areas in the Mediterranean, mainly in spain. Some birds remain in Black Sea, mostly around N and E coasts, but most move W to Mediterranean. Small numbers reach extreme N of Red Sea in Gulfs of Suez and Eilat. Also winters along NW African coasts S to Mauritania, rarely to Senegal and Gambia, and off Iberia. Few in British Is and W France. Main migration route is coastal. Status and Conservation. Not globally threatened. Total population 300,000-400,000 pairs. Israel. In Israel subspecies Larus melanocephalus. Rare migrant and winter visitor, mainly at Mediterranean shores, rare in Eilat. |
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