A Kozhikode-based ornithologist has recorded the first-ever sighting of the rare migratory bird Caspian Gull (Larus cachinnans) in Kerala.
Overview of Caspian Gull
The Caspian Gull is a large, white-headed gull species and is considered among the rarest gulls to appear in India.
- Habitat: This species typically breeds on flat, low-lying areas near water bodies. Its preferred nesting sites during the breeding season include lakes bordered by reedbeds in steppes and semi-desert regions of Central Asia, as well as river islands covered in grass or shrubs.
- Diet: The Caspian Gull feeds on fish and various invertebrates such as insects and molluscs.
- Identification: It closely resembles the Steppe Gull, making it challenging to distinguish.
- Range and Migration: Originating in Central Asia, the Caspian Gull is known to migrate to northwestern parts of India, such as Gujarat, during winter. Its migratory path stretches from the Black Sea to the Caspian Sea and then toward southern and eastern Kazakhstan and western China. While it traditionally winters in regions ranging from the eastern Mediterranean to the Persian Gulf and western India, recent trends show an increasing presence in parts of Europe, including Sweden, Norway, and Denmark.
Conservation Status
- IUCN Red List: Classified as Least Concern.