December 18, 2017 6:35 am
The Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla) is a medium-sized gull of North and South America. The genus name Leucophaeus is from Ancient Greek leukos, “white”, and phaios, “dusky”. The specific atricilla is from Latin ater, “black”, and cilla, “tail”. Linnaeus appears to have misread his note atricapilla (black-haired), which would have been much more appropriate for this black-headed, but white-tailed, bird.
It breeds on the Atlantic coast of North America, the Caribbean, and northern South America. Northernmost populations migrate farther south in winter, and this species occurs as a rare vagrant to western Europe. (There was an influx into North-west Europe in late October 2005 when at least 18, possibly as many as 35, individuals occurred on one day in the UK alone.) The laughing gull’s English name is derived from its raucous kee-agh call, which sounds like a high-pitched laugh “ha… ha… ha…”.
Posted by H.J. for avian101
Categories: Birds from other places, Birds Photography, Gallery of Birds, Interesting Information
Tags: birding, birds, Laughing Gull, nature, photography, photos of birds
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We have large colonies of these birds, and believe me — when they start laughing in unison, there’s rarely a person who can keep from laughing with them.
By shoreacres on December 18, 2017 at 6:54 am
Thank you for sharing Linda. 🙂
By avian101 on December 18, 2017 at 2:18 pm
excellent gallery of pictures.
By susanpoozan on December 18, 2017 at 10:34 am
Thank you very much Susan. 🙂
By avian101 on December 18, 2017 at 2:20 pm
A nice variety of pictures of the gull.
By tootlepedal on December 18, 2017 at 3:51 pm
Thanks Tom! 🙂
By avian101 on December 18, 2017 at 3:54 pm
Reblogged this on Wolf's Birding and Bonsai Blog.
By africanbirding on June 28, 2019 at 10:30 am