Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris) — identification, habitat & look-alikes

Black-tailed Gull is an East Asian gull that rarely visits North America. Adults have a broad black band across the white tail, unlike most adult gulls.

Appearance

Appearance: Adults are about 18 in (46 cm) long, with a dark gray back, yellow legs, and a yellow bill marked black and red near the tip. The wide black band on the otherwise white tail is visible while perched or flying.

Look-alikes

Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensis

An adult Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) has a clean white tail and only a black ring on the bill. An adult Black-tailed Gull has a broad black tail band and both black and red near the bill tip.

Why they get mixed upBoth are medium-sized gulls with yellow legs and a dark mark on a yellow bill.

Where it lives

Typical habitats: rocky coasts
harbors
river mouths
landfills
Range: It breeds on the coasts of eastern Asia, including Japan and Korea. In the United States it is a rare visitor recorded in Alaska, on both coasts, and inland.
Seasonal presence: It does not have a regular breeding or wintering population in the United States.

Behavior

Diet: In its East Asian range it eats fish, , and food scraps.
Activity: In its native range it swims and feeds along shorelines and around harbors.

Life cycle

Breeding season: Breeding takes place in spring and summer in eastern Asia.
Nest: In its native range, it nests in on rocky islands and coastal outcrops.

Conservation

IUCN Red List: LCLeast ConcernLow risk of extinction

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