| י251) שחף אפור-זנב | ||||||||||
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:שחף אפור-זנב . דומה במקצת ליונה, ראשו שחור, קשת לבנה בולטת מעל עינו . חלקי גופו העליונים אפורים, זנבו אפור בהיר והנוצות החיצוניות לבנות . בתחילת תקופת החיזור נוצותיו מקבלות גוון ורדרד . המקור אדום חיור ורגליו בגוון אורנג'-שחור . בית חיותו משתרע בצפון אמריקה, חורף בדרום אמריקה דרומית לצ'ילה . בית גידולו חופי אגמים, ביצות, שדות ומזבלות . דוגר באגמים וביצות בפנים היבשת . בארץ מבקר אקראי נדיר ביותר, נצפה בשנת 2003 ליד קיבוץ לוטן ... ואת השחף ... ויקרא י"א, 16 | ||||||||||
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Subspecies and Distribution.
Larus pipixcan Inland North America, from British Columbia to Alberta and from Montana to Minnesoa, with scattered populations in N Rocky Mts and Great Basin. Winters mainly off South America, S to Chile. םםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםם םםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםם | ||||||||||
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Descriptive notes.
Smallish, somewhat dove-like gull with black hood. 32-38 cm, 220-330 g, wingspan 85-90 cm. Bold white crescents above and below eye, and medium-grey mantle and upperwings. Tail very pale grey,with white outer feathers. neck and underparts white, latter with pink bloom early in breeding season. Bill dull red. Legs brick orange to blackish. Habitat. Coasts, lakes, marshes, fields and rubbish dumps.Breeds exclusively at inland lakes and marshes, over water preferably 1 m deep. Requires emergent vegetation, although some nests float freely, also nests in dense cat-tails. Food and Feeding. In breeding season, almost exclusively earthworms or emerging chironomeds, also aquatic invertebrates, grasshoppers, and incidentally small rodents and fish.Early arrivals may rely on grain or sunflower seeds before insects become available. Feeds mainly in agricultural fields near colonies. In winter small fish make up and important part of diet, as do fish offal and refuse. Feeds along coast, fishing in the surf, and exploits fish factories, sewage outfalls and rubbish dumps. Breeding. Highly synchronous. Arrives near colonies in mid Apr, laying mainly in mid to late May.Pairing occurs fust before arrival. highly gregarious, with most colonies up to 10,000 pairs. Low colony-site tenacity due to fluctuating water conditions. Nest of marsh vegetatio0n, requires daily maintenace, as tends to sink.3 eggs. Incubation 23-26 days. Chicks remain on nest platform unless seriously threatened, then swim into nearby reeds. Movements. Most birds migrate, through interior USA to Gulf Coast, then across Mexico to Pacific coast, eventually reaching Peru and Chile, where they remain to early May. Very common visitor to sandy beaches, river mouths and cultivated fields along coast from Ecuador to C Chile, Rarely to Tierra del Fuego. Accidental on Pacific islands, and in Europe and W Africa. Status and Conservation. Not globally theratened. Total population estimated at 350.000 pairs in more then 25 colonies. Israel. In Israel subspecies Larus pipixcan. Accidental visitor. Fires recorded near Kibbutz Lotan near Eilat. |
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