Ruth Walker

Breeds from Iceland to Kamchatka; populations vary from resident to migratory (Olsen & Larsson 2004). Up to to four (Adriaens & Gibbins 2016) subspecies recognized. The subspecies from Europe is the nominate one, though it may mix with L. c. henei in E Europe (E Baltic area) (Olsen & Larsson 2004).

Season of assessment

B

Population trendUnknown
Population size
(min-max, best estimate)		1920000-2600000,2250000
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 Common Gull

Most recoveries obtained at (<2000 km), indicating that this species behaves as a short- to medium-distance migrant. Migration chiefly coastal. All populations that migrate show a main NE-SW migratory axis, suggesting that they all are part of a same population, with a high degree of sympatry in winter quarters (Pedersen et al. 2000). Most recoveries in winter distribute from Ireland-England to Baltic, also up to the Bay of Biscay, with some reaching S Europe (a rare bird in S Iberia and the W Mediterranean). Practically no recoveries in SE Europe and the Black Sea area, which is a wintering site for the L. c. henei subspecies (Olsen & Larsson 2004). An exceptional recovery of a bird ringed in Jul in The Netherlands, encountered in Guinea Gulf in Apr.

Recoveries by Condition for Common Gull

Most recoveries due to birds seen alive (ca.71%). 40% of recoveries identified by leg ring(s) and 19% with metal rings. Regarding the recovery condition by time periods, pre-1960 and 1961-1990 periods have similar patterns with a high majority of the recoveries due to birds found dead by sickness or wounded (52% and 55% in each period, respectively). Shots represent 34%, 18% and <1% of the recoveries for the periods here considered. Nowadays, a high majority of the recoveries are due to birds seen alive (77%) identified by other means (50% from leg rings).

Annual Movements for Common Gull

Autumn migration starts in Jun-Sep. Differential migration between age classes: breeding sites left first by subadults, followed by adults and, finally, first-years (Olsen & Larsson 2004). Wintering grounds already reached from Aug/Sep, up to the end of the winter. Spring migration mostly starts in Mar.

Connectivity by Month by Region for Common Gull

N European birds leave their breeding sites earlier than those from further E regions, giving rise to waves of passage in e.g. S Scandinavia (Olsen & Larsson 2004). Passage in S Scandinavia shows a first peak in Jul/Aug (adults) or Sep/Oct (first-years); then another peak is found in Oct/Nov, in this case linked to Russian birds (Olsen & Larsson 2004). Overall spring migration back to breeding quarters occurs in Mar/Apr. Breeding sites reached later with increasing latitude.

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
Adriaens, P., Gibbins, C.2016 . Identification of the Larus canus complex. Dutch Birding 38: 1–64
Del Moral, J. C., De la Puente, J.2017 . Buitre negro – Aegypius monachus. In: Enciclopedia Virtual de los Vertebrados Españoles. Salvador, A., Morales, M. B. (Eds.). Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Madrid
Pedersen , K.T. , Fritze, E.B. , Kharitonov, S.P. 2000 . Migration patterns of Common Gulls Larus canus ringed in the non‐breeding season in Copenhagen and the surrounding area. Ringing & Migration 20: 97–106

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