Larus ichthyaetus -- Pallas, 1773 ANIMALIA -- CHORDATA -- AVES -- CHARADRIIFORMES -- LARIDAE Common names: Pallas's Gull; Goéland ichthyaète; Great Black-headed Gull European Red List Assessment European Red List Status LC -- Least Concern, (IUCN version 3.1) Assessment Information Year published: 2015 Date assessed: 2015-03-31 Assessor(s): BirdLife International Reviewer(s): Symes, A. Compiler(s): Ashpole, J., Burfield, I., Ieronymidou, C., Pople, R., Tarzia, M., Wheatley, H. & Wright, L. Assessment Rationale European regional assessment: Least Concern (LC) EU27 regional assessment: Not Applicable (NA) This species has a very large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence 10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). The population trend appears to be fluctuating, and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (30% decline over ten years or three generations). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern in Europe. The bird is considered vagrant in the EU27 and is assessed as Not Applicable (NA) for this region. Occurrence Countries/Territories of Occurrence Native: Armenia; Azerbaijan; Georgia; Romania; Russian Federation; Turkey; Ukraine Vagrant: Austria; Belarus; Belgium; Bulgaria; Cyprus; Denmark; France; Greece; Hungary; Italy; Latvia; Malta; Netherlands; Norway; Poland; Portugal; Sweden; United Kingdom Population The European population is estimated at 25,100-28,300 pairs, which equates to 50,100-56,500 mature individuals. The species does not occur in the EU27. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF . Trend In Europe the population size is estimated to be fluctuating. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF. Habitats and Ecology Its main habitat includes coasts and major rivers, harbours, fish ponds and rubbish dumps. It breeds on barren islands in fresh and saline lakes and in generally arid areas, preferring saline soils. It feeds chiefly on fish (particularly dead fish) and crustaceans, as well as insects, small mammals, birds, eggs and reptiles. It commonly follows fishing boats and takes fish offal in harbours. It often flies long distances from colonies to feed aerially on swarming insects (Burger et al. 2013). Habitats & Altitude Habitat (level 1 - level 2) Importance Occurrence Artificial/Aquatic - Aquaculture Ponds suitable non-breeding Artificial/Aquatic - Water Storage Areas (over ha) suitable non-breeding Artificial/Terrestrial - Urban Areas suitable non-breeding Marine Coastal/Supratidal - Coastal Brackish/Saline Lagoons/Marine Lakes suitable breeding Habitats & Altitude Habitat (level 1 - level 2) Importance Occurrence Marine Coastal/Supratidal - Coastal Freshwater Lakes suitable breeding Marine Intertidal - Rocky Shoreline suitable breeding Marine Intertidal - Rocky Shoreline suitable non-breeding Marine Intertidal - Sandy Shoreline and/or Beaches, Sand Bars, Spits, Etc suitable breeding Marine Intertidal - Sandy Shoreline and/or Beaches, Sand Bars, Spits, Etc suitable non-breeding Marine Intertidal - Shingle and/or Pebble Shoreline and/or Beaches suitable breeding Marine Intertidal - Shingle and/or Pebble Shoreline and/or Beaches suitable non-breeding Marine Neritic - Estuaries major non-breeding Marine Neritic - Macroalgal/Kelp major non-breeding Marine Neritic - Seagrass (Submerged) major non-breeding Marine Neritic - Subtidal Loose Rock/pebble/gravel major non-breeding Marine Neritic - Subtidal Rock and Rocky Reefs major non-breeding Marine Neritic - Subtidal Sandy major non-breeding Marine Neritic - Subtidal Sandy-Mud major non-breeding Shrubland - Temperate suitable breeding Wetlands (inland) - Bogs, Marshes, Swamps, Fens, Peatlands suitable breeding Wetlands (inland) - Permanent Freshwater Lakes (over ha) suitable non-breeding Wetlands (inland) - Permanent Freshwater Lakes (over ha) major breeding Wetlands (inland) - Permanent Rivers/Streams/Creeks (includes waterfalls) suitable breeding Wetlands (inland) - Permanent Rivers/Streams/Creeks (includes waterfalls) suitable non-breeding Wetlands (inland) - Permanent Saline, Brackish or Alkaline Lakes major breeding Wetlands (inland) - Permanent Saline, Brackish or Alkaline Marshes/Pools major breeding Wetlands (inland) - Permanent Saline, Brackish or Alkaline Marshes/Pools major non-breeding Altitude Occasional altitudinal limits Threats This species is threatened by increasing predation from Larus cachinnans in its breeding range, and by nest predation by mammals (Burger and Gochfeld 2014). It is also still persecuted in some regions due to its depredation on commercial fish, and colonies are often subject to flooding following storms (Burger and Gochfeld 2014). The species is susceptible to avian influenza, so may be threatened by future outbreaks of this disease (Melville and Shortridge 2006). Threats & Impacts Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses Biological resource Hunting & trapping Timing Scope Severity Impact use terrestrial animals Ongoing Minority (<50%) Causing/Could Low Impact (persecution/ cause fluctuations control) Stresses Species mortality Climate change & Storms & flooding Timing Scope Severity Impact severe weather Ongoing Unknown Causing/Could Unknown cause fluctuations Stresses Species disturbance Invasive and other Avian Influenza Timing Scope Severity Impact problematic Virus (H subtype) Past, Likely to Unknown Causing/Could Past Impact species, genes & Return cause fluctuations diseases Stresses Species mortality Invasive and other Caspian Gull (Larus Timing Scope Severity Impact problematic cachinnans) Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Causing/Could Medium Impact species, genes & cause fluctuations diseases Stresses Species mortality Threats & Impacts Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses Invasive and other Mammalian Timing Scope Severity Impact problematic predators Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Causing/Could Medium Impact species, genes & cause fluctuations Stresses Species mortality Invasive and other Unspecified species Timing Scope Severity Impact problematic Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Causing/Could Medium Impact species, genes & cause fluctuations diseases Stresses Species mortality Conservation Conservation Actions Underway Listed on Appendix II of the Convention for Migratory Species and listed under the African Eurasian Waterbird Agreement. It is listed in 13 Important Bird Areas, in Russia and in the Ukraine. Conservation Actions Proposed Identification of Important Bird Areas for this species, and subsequent protection and management of sites. Bibliography Burger, J., Gochfeld, M. & de Juana, E. (2013). Pallas's Gull (Larus ichthyaetus). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.) (2013). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. Melville, D. S.; Shortridge, K. F. 2006. Migratory waterbirds and avian influenza in the East Asian- Australasian Flyway with particular reference to the 2003-2004 H5N1 outbreak. In: Boere, G.; Galbraith, C., Stroud, D. (ed.), Waterbirds around the world, pp. 432-438. The Stationary Office, Edinburgh, UK Map (see overleaf) .