Larus armenicus
The Armenian Gull (Larus armenicus) is a robust and distinctive medium-large gull, measuring 55-62 cm in length with a wingspan of 130-150 cm and weighing between 600-1100 grams. Adults display a pale to medium-grey back and upperwings, contrasting with striking black primary tips featuring prominent white 'mirrors' on P9 and P10. A key diagnostic feature is its striking dark brown iris, giving it a 'soft-eyed' expression, along with a relatively short, stout yellow bill adorned with a broad,...
Primarily found around large, high-altitude freshwater and brackish inland lakes, as well as adjacent river valleys and wetlands. Occasionally, it utilizes coastal areas during the non-breeding season.
An omnivorous and opportunistic scavenger, its diet includes fish, insects, crustaceans, small mammals, eggs and chicks of other birds, carrion, and human refuse.
Armenian Gulls are highly opportunistic and adaptable, exhibiting varied daily activity patterns from diurnal foraging to crepuscular scavenging. Their foraging strategies are diverse, including surface-seizing fish, hawking insects in flight, scavenging at refuse dumps, and preying on eggs and c...
The Armenian Gull exhibits a relatively restricted breeding range centered in the Armenian Highlands and surrounding regions. It primarily breeds in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and eastern Turkey, with smaller numbers in northwestern Iran and historically in Syria and Israel. During the non-bre...
Least Concern
- Unlike many large gulls in its complex, the Armenian Gull consistently sports a dark brown iris, a key identifier even at a distance. - It was historically considered a subspecies of the Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis) or Caspian Gull (Larus cachinnans) before being recognized as a disti...