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Sooty Gull

(Larus hemprichii)
Alternative name: "Hemprich's Gull"
Size: 44 cm; wing span 1.12 m

Sightings

Sooty Gulls were first spotted by us on the north-eastern coastline of Oman, in the area from Quriyyat to Ras Al-Hadd, in May 2010. In the same month also seen along the coastline west of Muscat (Al-Batinah region).

Photos

Lateral view of an adult Sooty Gull

Here seen from behind

This bird favoured its right leg, limping on the left

Sooty Gull in flight

Frontal view of an immature Sooty Gull

Lateral view of a (probably immature) Sooty Gull

Immature Sooty Gull landing

Food

Like all gulls, Sooty Gulls are opportunistic. They will feed on anything from carrion and discarded entrails to fish, chicks of other bird species and eggs.

These pages are largely based on our own observations. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.