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Thayer's Gull
last update: Apr 21, 2009 10:35 AM
Latin name: Larus thayeri
Population: unknown
Cites classified: Least Concern
Where found: Western shore of Hudson Bay and the Canadian Arctic islands from Banks to northern Baffin Islands and north to Ellesmere Island
Age/ life expectancy: unknown
Wingspan: 142-152 cm
Length: 55-63 cm
Weight: 700-1100 g
Mating/Breeding: The breeding characteristics of the Thayer's Gull are not well known. They probably start breeding at four years of age. Typical of gulls, they nest in colonies, often mixed with other gull species. The nest is located on the ledge of a rocky island cliff. Both sexes help build the nest, which is a low mound of plant material, matted down in the middle. The female usually lays 2, or occasionally 3, eggs, and both sexes help incubate the eggs and feed the young. Incubation and fledging periods are not known.
Eggs: 1-3 variable eggs (base colour from pale grey to buff-brown and often heavily marked with purple-brown and grey splotches
Hibernation: migrates to the western coast of North America from British Columbia to California
Hunting Habits: surface feeds, plunge-dives, and scavenges
Feed on: fish, crustaceans, molluscs, chicks and eggs, and carrion
Predators: gyrfalcon, common raven, and arctic fox
Colour/Body: The Thayer's Gull is a large gull, with typical gull-like plumage. The adult is solid slate-gray on its backs and wings, with black on the outer edges of the wings. The undersides of the wings are pale. The trailing edge of the wing is white, and the legs are pink. White in the breeding season, its head is brown and dirty-looking in the non-breeding season. Immature birds sport a variety of plumages with varying degrees of mottled brown and white mixed with adult plumage characteristics.
