About Leucophaeus modestus (Tschudi, 1843)
This species, commonly known as the grey gull, has the scientific name Leucophaeus modestus (Tschudi, 1843). Male and female grey gulls have similar appearance. Adult grey gulls reach an approximate length of 45 cm (18 in), with a weight ranging from 360 to 400 g (13 to 14 oz). During the summer, adult grey gulls have white heads, while their heads become brownish-grey in winter. Their body and wings are grey, with the dorsal surface being noticeably darker than the ventral region. Their flight feathers are black, and the inner primaries and secondaries have white tips that are visible when the bird is in flight. The tail features a black band with a white trailing edge. The legs and beak are black, and the iris is brown. The grey gull's call is similar to that of the laughing gull, Leucophaeus atricilla. The grey gull breeds inland in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile. During the non-breeding season, its range covers Costa Rica, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Chile. It has also been recorded in the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and the South Sandwich Islands. It occurs as a vagrant in Panama and Florida. A 1987 earlier report of the species in Louisiana has not been accepted by a birdwatching authority.
