Saunders's gull

Saunders's gull
Summer plumage
Winter plumage
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Laridae
Genus: Saundersilarus
Dwight, 1926
Species:
S. saundersi
Binomial name
Saundersilarus saundersi
(Swinhoe, 1871)
Synonyms
  • Larus saundersi
  • Chroicocephalus saundersi

Saunders's gull (Saundersilarus saundersi) or Chinese black-headed gull,[1] is a species of gull in the family Laridae. It is found in China, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Macau, Russia, Taiwan, and Vietnam.[1] Its natural habitats are estuarine waters and intertidal marshes. As with many other gulls, it has traditionally been placed in the genus Larus, but based on phylogenetic work some have moved it to Chroicocephalus, while others argue it is sufficiently distinct for placement in the monotypic Saundersilarus.[2] In 2023, this transfer was accepted by the International Ornithologists' Union.[3]

It is threatened by habitat loss, particularly by conversion of saltmarsh to agricultural land or fish farms, and industrial development including oil extraction.[4] One of its few remaining strongholds are the Yancheng Coastal Wetlands, which hosts about 20% of the world's population.

Saunders's gull is named after the British ornithologist Howard Saunders.[5]

  1. ^ a b c BirdLife International (2012). "Saundersilarus saundersi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012. Retrieved 2013-12-11.
  2. ^ Pons, J.-M.; Hassanin, A.; Crochet, P.-A. (2005). "Phylogenetic relationships within the Laridae (Charadriiformes: Aves) inferred from mitochondrial markers". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 37 (3): 686–699. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2005.05.011. PMID 16054399.
  3. ^ International Ornithologists' Union. Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela (eds.). "IOC World Bird List 14.1" (xlsx). Retrieved 2023-12-20.
  4. ^ Olsen, K.M.; Larsson, H. (2004). Gulls of Europe, Asia, and North America. Helm. ISBN 0-7136-7087-8.
  5. ^ Jobling, James A. (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. p. 348. ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4.