Leucophaeus atricilla
Laughing Gull
No Local Name
f.LARIDAE
Gulls
sf.Larinae
Leucophaeus atricilla
Laughing Gull
No Local Name
f.LARIDAE
Gulls
sf.Larinae
Cook Islands Status Summary
Show Notes
Intl. NamesLaughing Gull EN Aztekenmöwe DE
Local NamesNo NameRR,AK
Pacific NamesNo Content
Sci. NamesLeucophaeus atricilla (accepted name)
, Larus atricilla
High Tax. Eng.k.Animals, p.Vertebrates, c.Birds, f.Gulls - Bird
High Tax. Latink.ANIMALIA, p.CHORDATA, sp.GNATHOSTOMATA, spc.TETRAPODA, c.AVES, sc.NEOGNATHAE, o.Charadriiformes, f.LARIDAE, sf.Larinae
Natl. PresencePresent
Sth. PresenceRR+ VMG-AT-MK-MT-AK+ VPL+ VMN-TK-
Nth. PresenceTN-MH-RK-PK-NS-SW-
VouchersPL2013
Local OriginNative; Vagrant; Breeding elsewhere
Global RangeNative: Breeds coastal ne.USA; non-breeding s.USA - C.America - n.S.America; vagrant see Comment;
HabitatAquatic - Marine - Near-shore
ThreatenedNo Content
InvasivenessNo Content
BiosecurityNo Content
Medical StatusNo Content
Harmful StatusNo Content
UsesNo Content
IdentificationPer local records: a gull with a dark hood. Adults and sub-adults with grey wings with extensive dark grey to black outer and hind section and slender posterior white margin. Tail pale with dark tip. Legs dark. JUVENILE greyish without dark head of wing tips.
Similar SpeciesFranklin's Gull very similar except outer wing is white with a black band (vs. black without white outline).
Interest NoteNo Content
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Vernacular Names
no data available
Threatened
no data available
Invasive/Pest Status
no data available
Biosecurity
no data available
Species Uses
Citation Information
McCormack, Gerald (2026) Cook Islands Biodiversity & Ethnobiology Database, Version 2026.03.23 - Cook Islands Natural Heritage Trust, Rarotonga. Online at https://naturalheritage.gov.ck/cibed
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