Sunday 25 September 2022

California Gull (Larus californicus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Larus ("gull") californicus ("of California")

 
Adult California Gull (Larus californicus) at Berkeley, California - August 2022

Featured Subspecies: -Unclear-
Weight: 430-1045g  /  Length: 46-55cm  /  Wingspan: 122-137cm
NO UK STATUS IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Despite the name, the California Gull actually has the bulk of its breeding range in Canada, and aside from the North-East most corner of the state is primarily a non-breeding migrant to its namesake. They are the State Bird of Utah, on account of an event where a huge flock appearing and consuming a huge swarm of crickets that was destroying the crops of Mormon Pioneers in Salt Lake Valley, which is named "the Mircale of the Gulls".

Related Species:
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Laridae
Genus: Larus

SUBSPECIES: L. c. californicus, L. c. albertaensis

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES 
A patchy breedin range in the North West of the Lower 48, Wintering on the West Coast.
 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen at  Berkeley and on the Half Moon Bay Pelagic Trip

 Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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