Mew Gull
Scientific name: Larus canus
Family laridae
- Phenology Mainland
- Wintering
- Phenology Madeira
- Vagrant
- Phenology Azores
- Vagrant
- IUCN Global Status
- Mainland Conservation Status
- Madeira Conservation Status
- Azores Conservation Status
Presentation
The Mew Gull is a rare winter visitor to Portugal, with its breeding populations found in Northern Europe and the temperate regions of Asia; the waters of the Iberian Peninsula and north-western Africa mark the southern limit of the species’ wintering range (del Hoyo et al. 1992). Although scarce, it is a regular visitor to Mainland Portugal. The species occurs sporadically along the entire coast, but appears to be more common north of the Tagus, with a preference for sandy coasts and estuaries (Catry et al. 2010a). To date, most sightings have been recorded between November and early April, with a particular concentration during the winter months, generally involving isolated individuals or small groups, often associated with other gull species (Catry et al. 2010a). In the Azores, it is most frequently observed at Praia da Vitória, on Terceira Island, with several dozen records (Birding Azores 2014; CPR). In Madeira, records of this gull are scarce. In the marine censuses carried out as part of this atlas, there are few records of the species, and all were made in the continental waters of the EEZ, up to 15 nautical miles from the coast, during the autumn and winter months.
Autor
Meirinho A, Barros N, Oliveira N, Catry P, Lecoq M, Paiva V, Geraldes P, Granadeiro JP, Ramírez I & Andrade J (2014). Atlas das Aves Marinhas de Portugal. Sociedade Portuguesa para o Estudo das Aves. Bibliografia:
Birding Azores (2014). http://www.birdingazores.com/ Bibliografia:
Catry P, Costa H, Elias G & Matias R (2010a). Aves de Portugal, Ornitologia do Território Continental. Assírio e Alvim, Lisboa Bibliografia:
Portuguese Rarities Committee Reports, see Book Atlas of Seabirds of Portugal – pp 207 Bibliografia:
del Hoyo J, Elliott A & Sargatal J (eds.) (1992). Handbook of the birds of the world. Vol. 1. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain Glossário:
Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, coastal states are entitled to declare an EEZ comprising maritime area beyond their territorial waters. The national EEZ is delimited by an imaginary line situated 200 nautical miles from the coast, separating national waters from international or shared waters. Within its EEZ, each state has rights such as the exploitation of marine resources, the conduct of scientific research and the regulation of fishing by foreign vessels. Glossário:
A period generally corresponding to the winter months, which may include part of autumn.
