Ichthyaetus relictus
The Relict Gull (Ichthyaetus relictus) is a medium-sized gull, measuring approximately 41-45 cm (16-18 inches) in length with a wingspan of 96-105 cm (38-41 inches) and weighing around 350-500 grams. In striking breeding plumage, adults exhibit a jet-black hood that extends to the nape, sharply delineated from the white body, complemented by prominent white crescents above and below the eye, giving it a distinctive 'spectacled' look. Its bill is a deep red with a black tip, and its legs are d...
This species primarily breeds on islands within large, shallow, saline or alkaline steppe lakes, often in semi-desert environments. During winter, it favors coastal mudflats, estuaries, and sheltered bays.
The diet of the Relict Gull is predominantly insectivorous, feeding on terrestrial and aquatic insects, especially damselfly larvae, grasshoppers, and beetles. It also consumes small fish, crustaceans, and occasionally small rodents.
Relict Gulls are highly colonial breeders, forming dense nesting aggregations on islands, often in conjunction with other gull species or terns. They are diurnal, spending their days foraging and typically roosting communally near their feeding or breeding sites. Foraging involves a mix of ground...
The breeding range of the Relict Gull is highly localized and fragmented across Central and East Asia, primarily centered around saline and alkaline steppe lakes. Key breeding colonies are found in the Great Lakes Depression of western Mongolia, eastern Mongolia, and parts of southern Russia (Tuv...
Vulnerable
- The Relict Gull was only formally described as a distinct species in 1968, having previously been confused with other similar-looking gulls like the Pallas's Gull or Common Black-headed Gull. - Its name 'Relict' refers to its relictual distribution, suggesting it is a survivor of a once wider-r...