Grey Gull
Leucophaeus modestus
Overview
The grey gull, or garuma gull (Leucophaeus modestus), is a medium-sized gull native to South America. It is unusual among gulls for breeding inland in the arid Atacama Desert of northern Chile, while appearing as a non-breeding bird along much of the Pacific coast.
Identification
- Body and wings are grey with the dorsal surface darker than the ventral region.
- Flight feathers are black with white tips on the inner primaries and secondaries.
- Legs and beak are black, and the iris is brown.
- Head is white in summer but brownish-grey in winter.
Habitat
This species breeds inland in the waterless region of the Atacama Desert in northern Chile. Its non-breeding range extends to the coasts of Costa Rica, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Chile, with occasional records from the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.
Diet
The grey gull forages in sandy beaches and mudflats by probing sediment for invertebrate prey, particularly mole crabs. It also consumes fish and ragworms, scavenges for offal, and sometimes follows fishing boats.
Did you know?
After their eggs hatch, parents take turns making round trips to the sea, which are 35 to 100 km from their nests, to bring food and water to their offspring.