Larus vegae
The Vega Gull, or East Siberian Gull, *Larus vegae*, is a robust and distinctive large gull of the northern Pacific and East Asian coasts, often considered part of the complex group of 'Herring Gulls.' Adults measure 55-67 cm in length with a wingspan of 130-158 cm, weighing between 800-1500g. They display a crisp white head and underparts, a medium-grey mantle (paler than Slaty-backed Gull but often darker than European Herring Gulls), and strong black wingtips with white 'mirrors.' A promin...
Breeds in arctic tundra, taiga, and coastal islands, often near freshwater bodies; winters primarily in coastal areas, estuaries, harbors, and urban environments.
Omnivorous and highly opportunistic, feeding on fish, marine invertebrates (crustaceans, mollusks), insects, eggs and chicks of other birds, small rodents, carrion, and human refuse.
Vega Gulls are highly diurnal and gregarious, often roosting and foraging in large mixed-species flocks. Their foraging strategy is opportunistic and diverse, including active predation on fish and marine invertebrates, scavenging refuse at landfills and harbors, and engaging in kleptoparasitism,...
The Vega Gull has an extensive breeding range across Northeast Siberia, stretching from the Taymyr Peninsula eastward through the Chukotka region, Kamchatka Peninsula, Sakhalin Island, and the Kuril Islands, extending south to northern Hokkaido, Japan, and inland parts of Mongolia (for the *mongo...
Least Concern
- The 'Vega' in its scientific name commemorates the Swedish expedition ship *Vega*, which completed the first transit of the Northeast Passage where the bird was first described. - Its taxonomic status is one of the most debated among gulls, leading to its inclusion in the complex 'Herring Gull ...