| י242) שחף ארמני | ||||||||||
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:שחף ארמני , שחף זה נחשב עד לאחרונה כתת מין של השחף הכספי . לכן איו עליו מידע מפורט. גבו ונוצות כנפיו העליונות אפורים . מקורו צהוב עמוק בקצהו טבעת שחורה ודקה וכתם אדום בלסת התחתונה . ראשו, חזהו וגחונו לבנים, רגליו צהובות עד צהובות-כתומות . קשתית העין צהובה ובהקפה טבעת אדומה . נבדל מהשחף הכספי במבנה הכנף, במקור, בעיניו הכהות ורגליו הצהובות , בית גידולו חופי ים ובפנים היבשת. דוגר רק באגמים הררים . משטחי עשב, חופים ושדות מעובדים . בארץ מבקר חורף שכיח בהמוניו, בצפון הארץ ומרכזה, נדיר באילת ... ואת השחף ... ויקרא י"א, 16 | ||||||||||
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Subspecies and Distribution.
Larus armenicus Caucasus through Armenia to E Turkey and NW Iran. Winters in SE Black Sea, E Mediterranean and N Red Sea. םםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםם םםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםם | ||||||||||
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Descriptive notes.
* Historically treated as a race of Larus argentatus, but smaller, with shorter bill, black band across both mandibles diagnostic, but not mentioned in original description. Also has a delayed moult. Monotypic. 60 cm, 1000 g, wingspan 140 cm. White-headed gull wih grey mantle and upperwings. bill deep yellow, with narrow subterminal black band, and red spot near gonys. Legs yellow to orange yellow, brighter than in Yellow-legged Gull. Iris mainly yellowish to brown, with red orbital ring. Upperparts slightly paler than in L. fuscus heuglini, but darker than in L. argentatus argentatus. Distingueshed from L. argetatus by wing pattern, bill, yellow legs, and darker eyes. Habitat. Inland and coastal waters. Breeds only at mountain lakes, using reedbeds, beaches, and agricultural fields. Food and Feeding. Very poor known, presumably feeds on fish, invertebrates and offal. Breeding. Apr. Only two colonies Known, nest among stones and grass or under bushes. 3 eggs. No further information available. Movements. Some birds remain in the breeding area all year, but many migrate short distances. Winters in Black Sea, and in E Mediterranean from Turkey to Israel, where it co-occurs with Yellow-leggd Gull. Many winter S at least to Tel Aviv, with few reaching N Red Sea. Only a vagrant to Persian Gulf. Status and Conservation. Not globally threatened. Possibly numbers fewer than 10.000 pairs. Very few studies have been carried out on present species, presumably in part because until recently it was widely regarded as merely a subspecies of L. argetatus. Israel. In Israel subspecies Larus armenicus. Abundant winter visitor in northern and central Israel and scarce in Eilat. |
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