Burgomaster - description, habitat, interesting facts

The burgomaster is understood as a bird, large in overall features and somewhat reminiscent of gulls. Otherwise, members of the family are called polar gulls, respectively, they belong to the gull family.

Description

These gulls are large-sized, they can be compared with marine or silver representatives of the species. They are distinguished by a flat parietal region and a strong beak. The wings are quite long, can reach 1.5-1.6 m in scope. As for the mass, it varies between 0.9-2.2 kg. The length of the body varies between 60–70 cm.

Mature individuals are famous for their silver mantle. It is slightly lighter than in comparison with silver tea. Missing black patterned at the edges of the wings. On the fly wings there is a transverse strip. The head is also light, whitish; in the winter, the plumage in this area is decorated with mottled areas.

The irises are yellowish and pale. Eyelids of the same shade, but slightly darker, pink blotches may appear on them. There is an orange mark on the yellow beak, and the tip is white. The legs are not bright, pink.

Description of the young

1. Young growth differs from the adult generation in the color of plumage. When they get their first winter outfit, they look red or brown with a gray tone. Variegated patches with dark marks are visible in the mantle region.
2. Feathers on the wings of one tone, it can be a brown or grayish tint. Markings are white at the tips; there are no dark patches on the secondary feathers. The tail adapts to the plumage of the body, it is gray with brown.
3. There may be mottled areas and spots of dark tone. The irises of the eyes of young animals are dark in shade. The beak is pinkish, the tip has a black mark. The legs are pinkish, but very light.
4. As for the birds that are in their first outfit in the summer, they look very tired. The specimens are almost whitish, there are some spots. When the first winter plumage is replaced by the second, individuals become light, some distinct dark spots appear on the body. The irises of young animals brighten, gradually becoming yellowness.
5. The beak in its structure and shade is almost the same as that of birds under the age of one year, but at its tip there are bright areas. Individuals who have already acquired a third outfit in winter more or less coincide in color and other characteristics with adult birds. However, they still have brown spots and a mantle of light gray.
6. Immature young individuals are very easy to identify in appearance. If they have not reached the first summer outfit, they will be the main distinguishing feature of the color of the beak. In the presented individuals, it will have a light pink hue with a bright black finish.
7. The polar gulls, on the contrary, have a plain black beak. Sometimes it can lighten to the base. If you look at such birds from a great distance, the beak of the polar gull may appear completely black.
8. In some cases, in gulls and burgomasters, the color of the beak can be similar only in color. Otherwise, you can replace the distinctive features in the form of a different shape of the head, beak and general proportions.
9. After the birth of the burgomaster chicks, they look like the babies of a sea gull. Only the former differ in a slightly lighter shade. In addition, they are grayish with a yellow tint on top. Below they have a whitish plumage with a yellow throat.

Spread

1. It is worth noting that the presented individuals of this species live on the Arctic coasts of Eurasia and North America.Often such birds in the winter season try to stay on the coastal zone.
2. In most cases, this occurs near nesting sites. In very rare cases, the considered individuals fly deep into the mainland. Sometimes individuals penetrate south of the mainland to the European and central regions of Russia.

Breeding

1. The considered individuals can nest alone and in large colonies. In most cases, individuals locate their nests on cliffs and coastal cliffs. In any case, they should rise above the water.
2. Nests built in such tricky places can protect young animals from danger from predatory animals. After laying after just a month, chicks are born.
3. In this case, both parents are engaged in the siting of the future offspring. At one time, the female can bring up to 4 eggs. Chicks remain in the nest until 2 months of age.

Birds prefer to nest in the northern hemisphere and in European countries on the coasts. By their nature, they are considered migratory, that is, during a cold snap or due to other circumstances they migrate. Today we have studied all aspects.

Video: burgomaster (Larus hyperboreus)