Higher classification Leucophaeus | Family Laridae Scientific name Leucophaeus fuliginosus Rank Species | |
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Similar Bird, Gulls, Swallow‑tailed gull, Hartlaub's gull, White‑eyed gull | ||
Galapagos lava gull the laughing bird
The lava gull (Leucophaeus fuliginosus), also known as the dusky gull, is a medium-sized gull and a member of the "hooded gull" group. It is most closely related to the Laughing gull and Franklin's gull. The lava gull is endemic to the Galapagos Islands and is the rarest gull in the world.
Contents
- Galapagos lava gull the laughing bird
- Frigate bird and lava gull
- Taxonomy and systematics
- Description
- Distribution
- Ecology
- References
Frigate bird and lava gull
Taxonomy and systematics
First described by John Gould in 1841 from a specimen collected on Santiago Island in the Galápagos, the lava gull is a monotypic species.
Description
The adult plumage consists of a black head, dark gray wings with a contrasting white line on the leading edge, thought to play a function in displays and camouflage. Its dark gray body contrasts with a paler gray belly. The bill and legs are black, and the inside of the mouth is scarlet. It has white upper and lower eyebrows, with red lids. Unlike other hooded gulls there is no seasonal change in plumage pattern; adult gulls retain their dark hood year round. Immature gulls are generally dark brown.
Distribution
The entire population lives on the Galapagos Islands where it is found predominantly on the islands of Santa Cruz, Isabela, San Cristobal and Genovesa. Previously its population was estimated at 300–400 pairs; this estimate was revised downwards to 300-600 individuals in 2015. It is currently considered the rarest gull in the world.
Ecology
Unlike most gulls which nest close together and sometimes touching, lava gulls are solitary nesters, rarely nesting closer than 100 meters apart. They are highly territorial, defending breeding territories of roughly 2000 sq. meters (70 m diameter) from conspecifics. They nest on the ground, often under the protection of coastal vegetation, and line the nest with plant material. They lay two olive-colored and well-camouflaged eggs that take 32 days to incubate. They generally nest close to calm water, often near lagoons. Breeding appears to be opportunistic and is not restricted to a single season. Young birds fledge at 55 days and continue to be cared for by the adults for several weeks.
Potential nest predators include owls, frigatebirds and other lava gulls, as well as introduced mammals.
They are omnivores like most Larus gulls, generally scavenging or stealing from nests and fishermen, but will also catch fish, small crustaceans, and newly hatched lizards, iguanas, and turtles. They also feed on sea lion placenta. On Genovesa they exploit the kleptoparasitic behavior of the Magnificent frigatebird, capitalizing on the botched attempts by these frigatebirds to steal fish from various nesting seabirds.
The lava gull is categorized as "Vulnerable" by the IUCN Red List because it exists in small numbers and though the population is stable, it faces numerous threats.