<< Previous Next >>

The Red-Billed gull


The Red-Billed gull
Photo Information
Copyright: Stuart Smyth (stuart83) Silver Note Writer [C: 1 W: 0 N: 55] (150)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-01-22
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon 400 D, HOYA 77.0 mm UV
Exposure: f/7.1, 1/400 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-07-31 2:16
Viewed: 746
Points: 6
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The Red-billed Gull (Larus scopulinus), also known locally as Mackerel Gull, is a native of New Zealand, being found throughout the country and on outlying islands including the Chatham Islands, where it is known as Jackie, and Sub-antarctic islands.The Māori name of this species is Tarapunga[1]. Its vernacular name is sometimes also used for the Dolphin Gull, a somewhat similar-looking but unrelated species.

The Red-billed Gull is a fairly small gull with an all-red bill, red legs and feet, pale grey wings, and black wingtips. There is virtually no sexual dimorphism. It is the smallest gull commonly seen in New Zealand; a recent estimate of the population puts it at half a million birds in the country. Until recently it was regarded as a subspecies of the Silver Gull L. novaehollandiae found in Australia, and the two species are very similar in appearance. However the most recent research suggests that they are not particularly closely related.[2]

Behaviorally, the Red-Billed gull is a typical gull. It is an aggressive scavenger and kleptoparasite. Large numbers now live in towns and cities (most New Zealand cities are coastal or nearly so), feeding out of rubbish bins. Nesting is in large colonies; the birds form pair bonds which endure across seasons, but there is a certain amount of extra-pair copulation. Courtship feeding is an important part of the preparation for mating.

Canon EF 75-300mm Lens
kjpweb, Proframe has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
None
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

Picture perfect - it could fit in any book about gulls! Great colors and detail! Kudos, Stuart! Cheers, Klaus

A wonderful image full of colour! I like a lot the composition. Well captured, thank you.
Best wishes,
Achim

Very beautiful gull image Stuart.
Excellent composition, sharpness, DOF and lighting.
Wonderful soft background, clear white eye of the bird and feather details.
Colors and color contrast are great.
Thanks for sharing.
Have a great weekend,
Harry

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF