Audouin's Gull Bird Facts (Ichthyaetus audouinii)

The Audouin's Gull is a striking seabird. Its pristine white head and underparts contrast beautifully with its pale grey back and wings. Its most distinctive feature is the long, coral-red bill, often tipped with black and yellow. The dark eyes are surrounded by a red orbital ring.

Adults display a similar appearance year-round, with slightly duller colours in winter. Juveniles have brown mottling on their backs and wings, gradually acquiring adult plumage over three years.

The Audouin's Gull is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

The Audouin's Gull is not typically found in Garden habitats.

The Audouin's Gull is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

The Audouin's Gull can be found in Coastal habitats.

The Audouin's Gull is not typically found in Urban habitats.

The Audouin's Gull is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

The Audouin's Gull is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

The Audouin's Gull is not typically found in Desert habitats.

The Audouin's Gull is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

The Audouin's Gull is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

The Audouin's Gull is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

The Audouin's Gull is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Audouin's Gulls are predominantly found along the Mediterranean Sea coastlines, with the largest populations in Spain, Greece, and Turkey. They prefer sandy or rocky coastal areas, small islands, and occasionally inland wetlands.

During the non-breeding season, some individuals migrate to the Atlantic coasts of Morocco and Senegal. A small number may occasionally be spotted along the southern coasts of the UK, particularly during post-breeding dispersal.

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Audouin's Gull. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons

Species that can be found in the area throughout the year

Cyprus France Gibraltar Greece Italy Macedonia Morocco Spain Turkey

Species that are present in the area during their breeding season

Algeria Croatia Portugal Tunisia

Species that are present in the area outside their breeding season

Gambia Libya Mauritania Senegal

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Bird Attributes Explained

Our bird attributes system rates various aspects of a bird's capabilities on a scale of 0-100, based on data from field observations, scientific studies, and expert knowledge.

Attribute Categories:

Agility: Manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
Strength: Physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
Adaptability: Ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
Aggressiveness: Territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
Endurance: Stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

Understanding the Ratings:

0-20: Very Low
21-40: Low
41-60: Average
61-80: High
81-100: Very High

Remember, these attributes are relative to other bird species and don't necessarily indicate superiority.

Agility

Reflects the bird's manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.

The Audouin's Gull demonstrates high agility through its graceful, low flight over coastal waters and its ability to catch small pelagic fish. Its specialised fishing techniques, including night-time foraging, suggest excellent manoeuvrability.

Strength

Indicates the bird's physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.

As a medium-sized gull, the Audouin's Gull possesses moderate strength. Its ability to carry fish prey and engage in long-distance flights indicates a reasonable level of muscular power, though it's not known for exceptional feats of strength.

Adaptability

Represents the bird's ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.

The Audouin's Gull shows good adaptability, having recovered from near extinction and adjusting to various coastal habitats. Its specialised diet and ability to drink seawater demonstrate adaptation to marine environments, though it's less versatile in feeding habits compared to some gull species.

Aggressiveness

Measures the bird's territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.

Described as less aggressive than other gulls, the Audouin's Gull tends to be quieter and more specialised in its feeding habits. It doesn't typically engage in the boisterous behaviour often associated with gulls, preferring to focus on its fish-catching expertise.

Endurance

Reflects the bird's stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

The Audouin's Gull displays good endurance, evidenced by its partial migratory behaviour and ability to forage over wide areas of coastal waters. Its capacity for long-distance flights to wintering grounds in West Africa suggests a robust level of stamina.

Audouin's Gulls are primarily piscivorous, specialising in catching small pelagic fish like herrings, sardines and anchovies. They often feed at night, taking advantage of fish attracted to the surface by artificial lights.

Unlike many gull species, they rarely scavenge human refuse. They will also forage on land and have been observed taking small mammals and lizards as well as raiding olive groves.

Audouin's Gulls are graceful flyers, often seen gliding low over coastal waters in search of prey. Compared to other gulls, they are less aggressive and more specialised in their feeding habits.

These birds are generally quiet and prefer roosting in remote, flat areas near the shore.

The Audouin's Gull has a distinctive call, a nasal 'aow-aow' or 'aahrr'. During the breeding season, they produce a variety of vocalisations, including a soft purring sound used in courtship. Their alarm call is a sharp, repeated 'kek-kek-kek'.

Audouin's Gulls typically form breeding colonies on small, flat coastal islands from April to July. Courtship involves elaborate displays, including head-tossing and mew-calling between partners.

Nests are simple scrapes on the ground, often sparsely lined with vegetation. Females lay 2-3 eggs, which are olive-brown with dark splotches, perfectly camouflaged against the surrounding terrain.

Both parents incubate the eggs for about 27-33 days. Chicks fledge after 35-40 days but remain dependent on their parents for several more weeks, learning crucial foraging skills.

The Audouin's Gull typically lives for 15 to 20 years, with a maximum recorded lifespan of 25 years.

Like all birds, lifespan can be affected by factors including predation, habitat quality, disease, and access to food sources.

Once critically endangered, Audouin's Gull has seen a remarkable recovery thanks to conservation efforts but is still listed as Vulnerable.

Protection of breeding sites, particularly in Spain's Ebro Delta, has been crucial. However, the species still faces threats from habitat loss, overfishing, and climate change.

Look for Audouin's Gulls along Mediterranean coastlines, especially near fishing ports.
Observe their distinctive coral-red bill to differentiate from other gull species.
Watch for their elegant, low flight over water during fishing activities.
Visit breeding colonies on small islands during the spring and summer months.

Main predators include Yellow-legged Gulls, which often prey on eggs and chicks, as well as rats and feral cats on breeding islands.

Audouin's Gulls have specialised salt glands that allow them to drink seawater.
They are named in honour of the French naturalist and ornithologist Jean Victor Audouin (1797 – 1841).
Unlike many gulls, they rarely follow fishing boats for discards, preferring to catch live prey.

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Understanding the Ratings:

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