ML619333142
Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid) Larus occidentalis x glaucescens
Contributor
Date
Location
- Age and sex
- Adult Female - 1; Adult Male - 2; Immature Female - 1
- Behaviors
- Courtship, display, or copulation; Flying; Vocalizing
- Sounds
- Call; Flight call
- Playback
- Playback not used
Media notes
Territorial dispute between 2 pairs that leads to a physical fight between the 2 males. Male 1: Dark eyes, slightly paler primaries than the others (arguably "purer" GWGU) Female 1: 3rd/4th cycle (4th calendar year) female with dark bill markings and brownish primaries and tertials. Male 2 - Has rather pale eyes and slightly darker primaries than male 1 Female 2 - Similarly patterned to male 2 but slightly smaller with a brighter orange bill. 1. Long-call, mewing, choking between both pairs 2. 0:49 Male 1 chases male 2 - female 2 opens her wings in response, moving out of the way. 3. 0:55 Male of pair 1 attacks male of pair 2, while his mate follows and calls, while female of pair 2 flies off 4. Amidst the fight the male of pair 2 long-calls and mews. Another gull circles above (possibly mate) while female 1 leaves, re-joining male 1 once he successfully chases off male 2. All 4 birds then flew off where the video ends, but later landed on the lagoon continuing a bit of a chase but without major conflict. About 30 minutes later, pair 1 was still seen swimming in vicinity of Nature House and seen again on Wednesday morning.
Observation details
A group of 4 Glaucous-winged type Gulls (3 identifed as backcrossed hybrids) were engaged in a territorial dispute swimming in front of the Nature House, which started with choking displays and long-calling. This then broke in to a fight, where the male of one pair (which had the palest primaries, but may have yellow on orbital) attacked one of the others biting its wing. Its mate looked onward - identifiable as a 4th-year female with brownish 3rd cycle primaries and tertials and black bill ring. The aggressor successfully chased out his rival and continued to pursue them in flight after the fight on water.
Technical information
- Camera
- Microphone
- Accessories
- Original file size
- 943.7 MB