Sooty Gull

Sooty Gull Facts

• This charming wonder of the avian world remains best known by the simple yet moderately descriptive common name of the Sooty Gull. It also has a few other general titles by which it’s known, as well. These include the similar terms Aden gull and Hemprich’s gull. 
• Among scientific professionals, however, it’s perhaps better known by its technical designation. Unfortunately, like many such appellations, that one’s rather difficult for the layperson to pronounce. That’s because the animal bears the official moniker Ichthyaetus hemprichii.
• The marvel received that tongue-twisting epithet due to the efforts of Carl Friedrich Bruch. The respected German ornithologist accomplished the first recognition of it as a separate and distinct species. He achieved that scientifically noteworthy deed in the year 1855.
• The delicate creature holds its scientific name in honor of German naturalist Wilhelm Hemprich. That honored researcher died in 1825 while on a scientific expedition to Egypt and the Middle East. The rest of its formal name, Ichthyaetus, stems from the name of its genus.
• Thankfully, the Sooty Gull seems to be maintaining a fully thriving population base. That pleasant state of affairs also appears to hold true throughout the entirety of its native range. The IUCN therefore presently lists the intriguing creature as Least Concern on its Red List.
• This wonder of Nature and evolution nevertheless still faces multiple potential threats to its continued existence as a species. Like all forms of life on earth today, most of these stem from the actions of man. They include the relatied perils of habitat loss and climate change.

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Sooty Gull Physical Description

The remarkable Sooty Gull fully merits the appreciation it receives from those who admire its appearance. This doesn’t usually extend to its sheer size, though. That’s due to the fact that in this respect it’s a roughly medium-sized species of gull. It does, however, have distinguishing features.

It also follows a pattern prevalent among its many kindred around the globe. That’s the fact that this wonder of Nature displays little or no amount of the physiological characteristic of sexual dimorphism. This makes distinguishing the genders with a casual glance difficult for the observer.

Indeed, both sexes share the same plumage coloration, size, and overall morphology. Slight size differences do sometimes occur, with males being marginally larger than females. But this difference typically remains quite subtle and not easily noticeable without close examination.

Overall, the species attains an average body length measuring between 15 – 18 in (38 – 45 cm). A mean wingspan also ranges from 39 – 43 in (100 – 110 cm). In terms of weight, both sexes generally average 10 – 14 oz (290 – 400 gms). Exceptional specimens do occur, though, regardless of sex.

Yet, it’s the coloring of the aptly-named Sooty Gull that generally garners the most notice. The bird most commonly presents a dark brown or sooty-colored head, neck, and upper body during the breeding season. This pattern does, however, usually turn lighter outside of that specific period.

Meanwhile, the breast and belly of the animal display white. Its wings present a contrasting pattern of coloration. The upper wings evolved to manifest a grayish-brown shade with black primary feathers. Complimenting this, the underwings primarily display as pale with dark wingtips.

Its other features also stand out. The tail’s white with a black terminal band. Its bill is stout and dark, usually black or blackish with a hint of red or orange at the tip. The legs and feet show an almost black hue. It also has dark eyes, often surrounded by a highly distinctive white eye-ring.

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Aves
• Order: Charadriiformes
• Family: Laridae
• Genus: Ichthyaetus
• Species: I. hemprichii

Sooty Gull Distribution, Habitat, and Ecology

The visually appealing Sooty Gull evolved as endemic to only a moderate-sized portion of the surface of the earth. The precise location of that zone of habitation might surprise some of you, though. Its native range remains very closely associated with warm tropical and subtropical waters.

That territory happens to appear along the borders of Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. In the Red Sea area, it’s commonly found along the coastlines of Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, and Saudi Arabia. It’s also seen around the coastal Arabian Peninsula regions of countries such as Yemen and Oman.

The bird’s present in portions of the western Indian Ocean, including along the east coast of Africa, and around some islands in the Indian Ocean such as the Maldives and Socotra. It’s additionally sometimes spotted in the Gulf of Aden and Persian Gulf, as well as southwestern coast of India.

It mainly inhabits coastal and marine environments within its tropical and subtropical territorial range. It’s also closely associated with warm waters and is often found in areas where sufficient suitable nesting sites appear, and abundant food sources and undisturbed conditions predominate.

As a result, it’s most commonly found along sandy and rocky shores, mudflats, and estuaries. It also inhabits mangroves and salt marshes. It’s also common on offshore islands, where it breeds. These islands often have rocky or sandy substrates, providing safe nesting areas free from predators.

Being opportunistic, it’s often seen around fishing ports, harbors, and piers, where it scavenges for food. In some areas, it’s also associated with coral reef systems and coastal lagoons, which provide feeding grounds. Though primarily coastal, it does occasionally venture out to sea to forage.

The impressive avian plays a significant ecological role in its coastal and marine environments. Being that it’s a versatile and opportunistic feeder, it interacts with various components of its local ecosystem, influencing food webs, nutrient cycling, and even human activities in certain regions.

The Sooty Gull evolved as an omnivorous scavenger and predator. Its diet includes fish, marine invertebrates, such as crustaceans and mollusks, and carrion. It also hunts small fish, and other marine organisms in shallow coastal waters and’s known to steal food from other seabirds.

It generally captures live prey in shallow waters, such as small fish or crabs, and occasionally feeds on seabird eggs and chicks. The bird’s even learned to exploit some human activities such as fishing, often congregating in numbers around fishing vessels to scavenge for bycatch or offal.

It typically nests on isolated offshore islands, where it forms colonies. Its nests consist of simple scrapes on the ground, often made in sandy or rocky areas. The breeding season varies by location. Both parents participate in raising the chicks, providing food and protection until fledging occurs.

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