Sooty Gull vs Mediterranean Gull
Larus hemprichii compared with Larus melanocephalus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Sooty Gull | Mediterranean Gull |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Larus hemprichii | Larus melanocephalus |
| Order | Charadriiformes | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Laridae | Laridae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 68.2 cm (26.9 in) | 60.5 cm (23.8 in) |
| Weight | 455.0 g (16.05 oz) | 282.5 g (9.96 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 1-3 | 1-5 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Sooty Gull
Least Concern
Mediterranean Gull
About These Birds
Sooty Gull
Sooty Gull, 43–47 cm, breeds around the Red Sea, Persian Gulf, and Indian Ocean coasts. Sooty brown head and upper breast in breeding plumage, dark greenish bill with red and yellow tip. Omnivore; scavenges fish offal at ports and forages along rocky shores. Resident throughout year on breeding coasts.
Mediterranean Gull
Mediterranean Gull, 36–38 cm, has expanded dramatically since the 1970s, breeding across Europe from the Black Sea to Britain. Pure white body, jet-black hood in breeding plumage — the only gull with entirely white wingtips. Piscivore and invertivore; nests in colonies, often with Black-headed Gulls.