Christopher Taylor Bird Nature Wildlife Mammal Photography
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GALLERIES > BIRDS > CHARADRIIFORMES > LARIDAE > LARINAE > LAVA GULL [Larus fuliginosus]

Lava Gull Image
 
 
Location: Darwin's Beach, Genovesa Island, Galápagos
GPS: 0.3W, -89.9N MAP
Date: May 21, 2008
ID: 7C2V2806
Lava Gull Photo
 
 
Location: Darwin's Beach, Genovesa Island, Galápagos
GPS: 0.3W, -89.9N MAP
Date: May 21, 2008
ID: 7C2V2915

nature photography
Lava Gull Image
 
 
Location: Darwin's Beach, Genovesa Island, Galápagos
GPS: 0.3W, -89.9N MAP
Date: May 21, 2008
ID: 7C2V2883
Lava Gull Photo
 
 
Location: Darwin's Beach, Genovesa Island, Galápagos
GPS: 0.3W, -89.9N MAP
Date: May 21, 2008
ID: 7C2V2884

bird photography
Lava Gull Image
 
 
Location: Darwin's Beach, Genovesa Island, Galápagos
GPS: 0.3W, -89.9N MAP
Date: May 21, 2008
ID: 7C2V2965
Lava Gull Photo
 
 
Location: Darwin's Beach, Genovesa Island, Galápagos
GPS: 0.3W, -89.9N MAP
Date: May 21, 2008
ID: 7C2V2973

bird photography
Lava Gull Picture
 
 
Location: Darwin's Beach, Genovesa Island, Galápagos
GPS: 0.3W, -89.9N MAP
Date: May 21, 2008
ID: 7C2V2539
Lava Gull Picture
 
 
Location: Darwin's Beach, Genovesa Island, Galápagos
GPS: 0.3W, -89.9N MAP
Date: May 21, 2008
ID: 7C2V2608

nature photography
Lava Gull Photo
 
 
Location: Darwin's Beach, Genovesa Island, Galápagos
GPS: 0.3W, -89.9N MAP
Date: May 21, 2008
ID: 7C2V2723
Lava Gull Image
 
 
Location: Darwin's Beach, Genovesa Island, Galápagos
GPS: 0.3W, -89.9N MAP
Date: May 21, 2008
ID: 7C2V2752

nature photography
Lava Gull Picture
 
 
Location: North Seymour Island, Galápagos
GPS: -0.4W, -90.3N MAP
Date: May 23, 2008
ID: 7C2V3911

nature photography

SPECIES INFO

The Lava Gull (Larus fuliginosus) is a large gull and very closely related to the Laughing Gull. It is the world's rarest gull with the entire population living on the Galapagos Islands. There is only an estimated 300 pairs there.

Adult plumage, acquired in the third year of life, consists of a black head, black wings, and with a dark gray body and a paler gray belly. The bill and legs are black, and the inside of the mouth is scarlet. They have white upper and lower eyebrows, with red lids. Immature gulls are generally dark brown.

Lava Gulls are solitary nesters, laying two olive-colored and well-camouflaged eggs that take 30 days to incubate. Young birds fledge at 60 days and are cared for by adults for a short period.

They are omnivores like most Larus gulls, generally scavenging or stealing from nests, but will also catch fish, small crustaceans, and newly-hatched lizards.

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.


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