Swallow-tailed Gull Pictures - Christopher Taylor Nature Photography

Christopher Taylor Bird Nature Wildlife Mammal Photography

GALLERIES > BIRDS > SWALLOW-TAILED GULL [Creagrus furcatus]

Location: Darwin's Beach, Genovesa Island, Galápagos
GPS: 0.3W, -89.9N MAP
Date: May 21, 2008
ID: 7C2V2927

Location: Punta Suarez, Española Island, Galápagos
GPS: -1.4W, -89.7N MAP
Date: May 18, 2008
ID: 7C2V1003

Location: Darwin's Beach, Genovesa Island, Galápagos
GPS: 0.3W, -89.9N MAP
Date: May 21, 2008
ID: 7C2V2853

Location: Darwin's Beach, Genovesa Island, Galápagos
GPS: 0.3W, -89.9N MAP
Date: May 21, 2008

Location: Punta Suarez, Española Island, Galápagos
GPS: -1.4W, -89.7N MAP
Date: May 18, 2008
ID: 7C2V0993

Location: North Seymour Island, Galápagos
GPS: -0.4W, -90.3N MAP
Date: May 23, 2008
ID: 7C2V3952

Location: Punta Suarez, Española Island, Galápagos
GPS: -1.4W, -89.7N MAP
Date: May 18, 2008
ID: 7C2V1188

Location: Punta Suarez, Española Island, Galápagos
GPS: -1.4W, -89.7N MAP
Date: May 18, 2008
ID: 7C2V1201

Location: Punta Suarez, Española Island, Galápagos
GPS: -1.4W, -89.7N MAP
Date: May 18, 2008
ID: 7C2V1001

Location: Punta Suarez, Española Island, Galápagos
GPS: -1.4W, -89.7N MAP
Date: May 18, 2008
ID: 7C2V1005

Location: Punta Suarez, Española Island, Galápagos
GPS: -1.4W, -89.7N MAP
Date: May 18, 2008

Location: Punta Suarez, Española Island, Galápagos
GPS: -1.4W, -89.7N MAP
Date: May 18, 2008
ID: 7C2V1159

Location: Punta Suarez, Española Island, Galápagos
GPS: -1.4W, -89.7N MAP
Date: May 18, 2008
ID: 7C2V1209

Location: Darwin's Beach, Genovesa Island, Galápagos
GPS: 0.3W, -89.9N MAP
Date: May 21, 2008

Location: Darwin's Beach, Genovesa Island, Galápagos
GPS: 0.3W, -89.9N MAP
Date: May 21, 2008

Location: Darwin's Beach, Genovesa Island, Galápagos
GPS: 0.3W, -89.9N MAP
Date: May 21, 2008

Location: Darwin's Beach, Genovesa Island, Galápagos
GPS: 0.3W, -89.9N MAP
Date: May 21, 2008
ID: 7C2V2616

Location: Darwin's Beach, Genovesa Island, Galápagos
GPS: 0.3W, -89.9N MAP
Date: May 21, 2008
ID: 7C2V2671

Location: Darwin's Beach, Genovesa Island, Galápagos
GPS: 0.3W, -89.9N MAP
Date: May 21, 2008
ID: 7C2V2832

Location: Darwin's Beach, Genovesa Island, Galápagos
GPS: 0.3W, -89.9N MAP
Date: May 21, 2008
ID: 7C2V2858

Location: Darwin's Beach, Genovesa Island, Galápagos
GPS: 0.3W, -89.9N MAP
Date: May 21, 2008
ID: 7C2V2930

Location: Darwin's Beach, Genovesa Island, Galápagos
GPS: 0.3W, -89.9N MAP
Date: May 21, 2008
ID: 7C2V2612

SWALLOW-TAILED GULL VIDEO

SPECIES INFO

The Swallow-tailed Gull (Creagrus furcatus) is an equatorial seabird in the gull family Laridae. The species is endemic to the Galápagos Islands. When it is not breeding it is totally pelagic (flying and hunting over the open oceans), migrating eastward to the coasts of Ecuador and Peru. A notable aspect of the swallow-tailed gulls are the fleshy red rims around the eyes; it is speculated that these may aid its noctural vision.

It is unique within the gulls for feeding exclusively at night (Harris 1970), feeding mostly on squid. It breeds colonially throughout the year; unlike most other gull species it lays a single egg per breeding attempt (Agreda & Anderson 2003) .

A type of fish that glows can be seen from above the water, making it easy for the Swallow-tailed Gull to see and attack it at night.