Bearing a superficial resemblance to a large Lesser Black-backed Gull, the plumage of this bird seems very variable,
much of the variation being due to bleaching. Immature birds seem to exhibit this most, and a few adults are very dark.
Bleaching occurs because it breeds primarily on Asiatic coasts of the North Pacific and is in areas of long
daylight hours in summer. It winters south to Japan, which is probably the easiest place to see it, although vagrants
occur in western USA, and one has recently been accepted in Britain, having been
long expected.
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HOMEPAGE
SLATY-BACKED GULL
Larus schistisagus
