Larus Crassirostris General Information and Scientific History

The Larus crassirostris, also known as the Red-billed Tern, is a fascinating bird species. It belongs to the Laridae family and is native to East Asia.

This bird is known for its distinctive red bill, which is a key identification feature. The Larus crassirostris has a wingspan of up to 120 cm and a body length of approximately 30 cm.

The species was first described by Japanese ornithologist Kuroda in 1926.

Take a look at this: Red Billed Leiothrix

The Black-tailed Gull is a medium-sized seabird with a distinctive black tail. It measures approximately 46 cm in length.

Its wingspan ranges from 126 to 128 cm. The species exhibits yellow legs and a notable red and black spot at the end of its bill.

Both sexes share the same plumage, though males are generally larger than females.

For another approach, see: Black Billed Magpie Bird

Vieillot, LJP 1818, was a French ornithologist who made significant contributions to the field of bird study. He is best known for his work on the classification of birds.

Vieillot's most notable work, "Ornithologie", was published in 1818 and contained detailed descriptions of over 2,000 bird species.

The Black-tailed Gull, also known as Larus crassirostris, is a medium-sized seabird.

It measures approximately 46 cm (19 inches) in length, with a wingspan ranging from 126 to 128 cm (49.6 to 50.3 inches).

The species exhibits yellow legs and a notable red and black spot at the end of its bill.

Both sexes share the same plumage, though males are generally larger than females.

It takes four years for this gull to attain its full adult plumage.

The Black-tailed Gull is a native of eastern Asia, but it can be found in many locations, including the Atlantic coast in North America.

They are well named, with the trademark white rump and black tail making the Black-tailed Gull relatively easy to differentiate from other Larus gulls with similar body plumage.

Here is a summary of the key characteristics of the Black-tailed Gull:

In Southeast Asia, they are sometimes referred to as the "cat gull", a reference to their cat-like, mewing call.

The black-tailed gull is resident to coastlines of the East China Sea, Japan, Manchuria, and the Kuril Islands. It's a vagrant to Alaska and North America and has been found in the Philippines.

In Japan, this species is common, with nests found from Hokkaido to Western Kyushu. It's caused flights to be delayed at Haneda Airport in Tokyo.

You can find an enormous gathering of black-tailed gulls at Kabushima, a peninsula in Hachinohe, Aomori, Japan. This gathering has been revered by the local population for over 700 years, with over 40,000 birds nesting and raising their young in the grounds of a nearby Shinto shrine.

The species is also found on the shoreline of Korea and various islands, with over 20,000 black-tailed gulls on Liancourt Rocks. Numbers are increasing due to the absence of predators.

This gull is native to the shorelines of East Asia, favoring coastal environments. It's a common sight in Japan, Korea, and other parts of its range.

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The Black-tailed Gull is a colonial nester, with breeding colonies established by mid-April. It's amazing to think that these colonies can form in such a short amount of time.

Clutches of 2–3 eggs are laid by early June, giving the parents a decent amount of time to incubate them. The incubation period is approximately 24 days, which is just the right amount of time for the eggs to develop properly.

The Black-tailed Gull is known to follow ships and commercial fishing fleets, often scavenging for food. This behavior is quite clever, as it allows the gulls to take advantage of the abundant food sources.

The Black-tailed Gull is known to follow ships and commercial fishing fleets, often scavenging for food.

These birds are incredibly opportunistic and will steal food from other seabirds.

Colonies of Black-tailed Gulls form in mid-April, where they will nest together.

The Black-tailed Gull is a colonial nester, establishing breeding colonies by mid-April.

These colonies are formed early in the year, allowing the gulls to start their breeding process on a solid foundation.

Clutches of 2-3 eggs are typically laid by early June, giving the parents a head start on incubation.

The incubation period for Black-tailed Gulls is approximately 24 days, a relatively short time compared to other bird species.

This brief incubation period allows the gulls to have multiple breeding cycles throughout the year, increasing their chances of successful reproduction.

The Black-tailed Gull, also known as Larus crassirostris, is not at immediate risk of population decline.

It's currently listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, which means it's doing okay for now.

This status is a result of conservation efforts and monitoring of its population trends, but it's essential to continue tracking its numbers and habitat health to ensure its long-term well-being.