Swallow-tailed Gull (Creagrus furcatus)

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Laridae | IUCN Status: Least Concern

swallow-tailed_gull
Age: Adult, alternate | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Galapagos Islands

swallow-tailed_gull
Age: Adult, alternate | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Galapagos Islands

swallow-tailed_gull
Age: Adult, alternate | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Paracas, Ica

swallow-tailed_gull
Age: Adults, Basic & Juvenile | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Pelagic waters, Peru


Identification & Behavior: ~56.5 cm (22.2 in). The Swallow-tailed Gull in basic plumage is mostly white with a gray back and black around the eye. Birds in alternate plumage have a black head, gray breast, and red legs. The bill in all plumages is black with a pale tip. The wing color pattern (in flight) is similar to that of the Sabine’s Gull. The Swallow-tailed Gull shows a deeply forked white tail in all plumages. Both species are largely pelagic.

Status: The Swallow-tailed Gull is a fairly common migrant to pelagic waters of Peru during the months of September through May. It breeds on the Galapagos Islands. It also occurs in Co, Ec, and Ch.

Name in Spanish: Gaviota Tijereta.

Sub-species: Swallow-tailed Gull (Creagrus furcatus), Néboux 1846.

Meaning of Name: Creagrus: Gr. Kreagra= a meat hook (ref to the hook in the bill). furcatus: L. Forked, fork-like.

See more of the Family Laridae   peru aves

Distribution Map
swallow-tailed gullVoice


References:

    • Species range based on: Schulenberg, T. S., D. F. Stotz, and L. Rico. 2006. Distribution maps of the birds of Peru, version 1.0. Environment, Culture & Conservation (ECCo). The Field Museum.  http://fm2.fieldmuseum.org/uw_test/birdsofperu on 01/01/2015.