Heuglin's gull
A large gull breeding in Russian tundra and wintering across Asia and Africa.
Heuglin's gull, sometimes called the Siberian gull, belongs to the genus *Larus*. It is occasionally classified as its own species, *Larus heuglini*, but more often it is considered a subspecies of the lesser black-backed gull. In the eastern part of its range, individuals tend to have paler grey upperparts; these are sometimes assigned to a separate subspecies, *Larus fuscus taimyrensis* (the Taimyr gull). Current thinking holds that these paler birds are hybrids between Heuglin's gulls and Vega gulls.
These birds breed across the tundra of northern Russia, from the Kola Peninsula east to the Taymyr Peninsula. They are seen regularly in Finland and may nest there. For winter, they migrate south to Southwest Asia, the Indian subcontinent, East Asia, and East Africa. Smaller numbers appear in the eastern Mediterranean and Southeast Asia, and the species has been recorded in South Africa. It can turn up as a vagrant in Western Europe.
Heuglin's gulls are large, with a rounded head, a strong bill, and long legs and wings. They measure 53 to 70 cm in length, with a wingspan of 138 to 158 cm and a body mass of 745 to 1,360 g. Standard measurements include a wing chord of 40.5 to 46.9 cm, a bill of 4.5 to 6.5 cm, and a tarsus of 5.9 to 7.8 cm. Their back and wings are dark grey, with the shade varying but often matching the slightly smaller subspecies *L. f. graellsii* of the lesser black-backed gull. In winter, the head shows only light brown streaking, while the hindneck is more heavily streaked. Legs are usually yellow but can be pink.
Moulting happens later than in most related gulls, so birds still have unstreaked heads and worn primaries in September and October. The primary feathers may not be fully grown until February or March, when the head is still streaked.
Their diet consists mainly of molluscs, worms, and crustaceans.
- Scientific name
- Larus fuscus heuglini (or Larus heuglini)
- Length
- 53 to 70 cm
- Wingspan
- 138 to 158 cm
- Body mass
- 745 to 1,360 g
- Breeding range
- Tundra of northern Russia, from Kola Peninsula east to Taymyr Peninsula
- Winter range
- Southwest Asia, Indian subcontinent, East Asia, East Africa
- Diet
- Molluscs, worms, crustaceans
Lore & Background
Heuglin's gulls breed in the tundra of northern Russia from the Kola Peninsula east to the Taymyr Peninsula. They are regularly reported from Finland and may breed there. They migrate south to winter in Southwest Asia, the Indian subcontinent, East Asia, and East Africa. Small numbers are seen in the eastern Mediterranean and Southeast Asia, and it has been recorded in South Africa. It may occur as a vagrant in Western Europe.
Reader's Guide
Heuglin's gull is significant as a taxonomically debated seabird, often treated as a subspecies of the lesser black-backed gull but sometimes elevated to full species. Its eastern populations, sometimes called Taimyr gulls, are thought to result from hybridization with Vega gulls, illustrating the complexity of gull systematics. The species breeds in remote Russian tundra and winters across a vast area from Southwest Asia to East Africa and East Asia, with vagrants reaching Western Europe and South Africa. Its moult timing is later than in most relatives, with unstreaked heads and worn primaries in September and October, and primary feathers not fully grown until February or March. This gull feeds mainly on molluscs, worms, and crustaceans. Its presence in Finland suggests possible breeding there, and its regular reporting in that region adds to its ornithological interest. The species' variable back color and leg color (usually yellow but sometimes pink) further contribute to identification challenges.
Did You Know?
- Heuglin's gull is sometimes considered a separate species (Larus heuglini) but is usually treated as a subspecies of the lesser black-backed gull.
- Birds in the eastern part of its range are often paler grey above and sometimes considered a separate subspecies Larus fuscus taimyrensis, thought to result from hybridization with Vega gulls.
- Moulting takes place later than in most relatives, with primary feathers not fully grown until February or March.
- It has been recorded in South Africa and may occur as a vagrant in Western Europe.
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