Slaty-backed Gull
Kamtschatkamöwe (Larus schistisagus )
The Kamtschatkamöwe (Larus schistisagus ) is a species of bird in the family of seagulls. It is found only on the coasts of the Bering Sea. It is a large, powerfully built monotypic gull species. The IUCN classifies them as uncritical ( least concern ).
Appearance
The Kamtschatkamöwe reaches a body length of 61-66 centimeters. The wingspan is about 145 to 150 centimeters. It weighs an average of 1.35 kg.
In breeding plumage Kamtschatkamöwen have a white head. The beak is yellow with a red spot at the front of the lower mandible. The beak inside is pale pink. The eyes are yellow or yellow-brown. The eye ring is bright red. The body bottom, the fuselage and the tail are white. The wing-coverts are slate gray. The wings are whitish at the top. The feet and legs are pink and in some individuals even bright red.
The simplicity dress similar to the plumage, but the skull has a fine brown dashes on. The neck and sides of the neck are dashed strong in many individuals. A dark stripe runs through the eye.
Young birds are pinnate throughout gray brown and have a dark brown tail. The beak is dark brown in young birds at first and takes the second winter in a dull yellow color. The Dunenküken are mottled brown and pale gray.
Distribution area
The Kamtschatkamöwe breeds in the eastern part of Chukotka, Kamchatka and on the northern coast of the Okhotsk Sea, and on the Commander Islands. It is a partial migrant, which remains in the breeding area, when conditions permit it. However Wintering birds occur to Japan.
Way of life
The Kamtschatkamöwe is an omnivore. For food range includes fish and invertebrates, birds and eggs. In Germany, the Kamtschatkamöwe also hunts small rodents. Together with the Beringmöwe the Kamtschatkamöwe belongs to important predators of the Auks. It provides, among others, according to the Nashornalk, Zwergalk, Bartalk, Rotschnabelalk, Schopfalk and Brillenteiste.
Kamtschatkamöwen breed both individually and in small colonies. You enter into a monogamous connection that can have more than one breeding season inventory. The nest is often built at some distance from the coast. Often the nest is no more than a gescharrte depression, but occasionally obstruct Kamtschatkamöwen also plant material to a greater extent. The nest consists of two to three eggs. These are pale brown with darker spots. The incubation period is 26 to 28 days. At the breeding and rearing of young birds birds both parents are involved. The young birds fledge 40 to 50 days. Kamtschatkamöwen do not breed for the first time before the age of four.