Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus poiocephalus

(Swainson, 1837)

Vernacular names
English : Gray-hooded gull
French : Mouette à tête grise

Classification
Class : Aves
Order : Charadriiformes
Family : Laridae
Notes : 1 other subspecies known

Identification
The species grows to a length of 45 cm for a weight of 460 g. Head grey with darker edge on neck and lighter forehead. Dark red bill, clear eyes, white eye-ring. Rest of plumage white, grey wings with white-spotted black flight feathers.

Range and habitat
Subspecies found in coastal areas of western Africa, east Africa, Madagascar and some nearby inland lakes. Species occurs in Ecuador, Peru, Argentina, Brazil. Lives in tropical and subtropical coasts, inland lakes and rivers, offshore islands.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : LEAST CONCERN
CITES : Not Listed
Status : The species is considered safe and both subspecies’ populations are increasing. African subspecies remains more numerous at this time.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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