Hans Joachim Fünfstück

Medium-sized W palearctic gull, breeding mainly in coastal lagoons and marshes in scattered localities of C Europe and around Black Sea, breeding range expanding (Carboneras & Dies 2016). Mostly migratory, with wintering areas in Mediterranean Sea, coastal migratory flyways but also resident strategy (Olsen & Larsson 2004) .

Season of assessment

B

Population trendDecreasing
Population size
(min-max, best estimate)		128000-203000,160000
Red List categoryLC
Franks, S., Fiedler, W., Arizaga, J., Jiguet, F., Nikolov, B., van der Jeugd, Ambrosini, R, Aizpurua, O., Bairlein, F., Clark, J., Fattorini, N, Hammond, M., Higgins, D, Levering, H., Skellorn, W., Spina, F, Thorup, K. Walker, J., Woodward, I. and Baillie, S.R. (1) (2022) Online Atlas of the movements of European bird populations. https://migrationatlas.org EURING/CMS (1) Principal investigator
Map

Overall Connectivity for Mediterranean Gull

Most recoveries obtained at < 2500 km, indicating short- to medium-distance migratory strategy. NW, N and W populations show a SW migratory direction (also confirmed with tracking data). Arriving as far as Azores, Canary Islands or African coasts up to Mauritania. Higher proportion of recoveries through English Channel coasts and the Bay of Biscay. Recoveries from C European population show a main E-W/SW migratory axis, from inland breeding colonies to coastline, reaching the Mediterranean coasts in Iberia (also confirmed with tracking data). E European populations move SW to Greece and the Italian peninsula.

Recoveries by Condition for Mediterranean Gull

Overall, most recoveries due to birds seen alive (ca.95%). 77% of recoveries identified with leg ring(s) and 9.5% with metal rings. Patterns of recovery condition different between periods. Before 1960, few recoveries due to birds seen alive (ca.0.4%), whilst 68% of recoveries dead by shot. Between 1961-1990, 60% still owing to dead recoveries (21% shot), and alive recoveries start to gain weight (ca.25%). From 1991- to present, recoveries due to birds seen alive comprise more than 97% of the total and no shot dead recoveries reported.

Annual Movements for Mediterranean Gull

Return to colonies in spring mostly by Apr, egg laying period mainly in May. Leaving breeding quarters from late Jun, migration mainly coastal (Olsen & Larsson 2004).

Connectivity by Month by Region for Mediterranean Gull

C European birds reach their breeding sites in spring in Apr; post-breeding migration can start in Jun/Jul. According to literature, most juveniles stay close to breeding grounds for the first winter (Olsen & Larsson 2004). Other European populations follow similar temporary pattern as deducted from ring-recovery data. 

Olatz Aizpurua & Juan Arizaga

References

Statistics Map
N records N individuals N recoveries
Mapped data*
Total available data
*Mapped data include only distant (>= 50 km) recoveries
References Map
Carboneras, C., Dies, J.I. 2016 . A new breeding population of Mediterranean Gulls Larus melanocephalus in the species' main wintering area maintains independent spatial dynamics. Ibis 158 Link to Article (DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/ibi.12324) : 190–194
Olsen, K. M., Larsson, H.2004 . Gulls of Europe, Asia and North America. Helm Identification Guides, London

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