The Armenian gull is a large gull found in the Caucasus and the Middle East. It was formerly classified as a subspecies of the European herring gull, but is now generally considered to be a separate species, although BirdLife International lumps it with the yellow-legged gull.
Region
Caucasus and Eastern Mediterranean
Typical Environment
Breeds around inland, often high-altitude lakes and reservoirs in Armenia, eastern Turkey, Georgia, and adjacent areas of Iran. During the non-breeding season many move to coastal zones of the eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East, including the Black Sea coasts, Levantine shores, and the Persian Gulf. It frequents islands, sandbars, and rocky or gravelly shorelines for nesting. Outside the breeding season it is common at ports, fish farms, rubbish tips, and river mouths.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 2200 m
Climate Zone
Continental
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The Armenian gull breeds mainly around high-elevation lakes in Armenia and neighboring regions and disperses to the eastern Mediterranean and Middle East in winter. It was long treated as a subspecies of the herring or yellow-legged gull complex, but is now widely recognized as a distinct species. Adults show a characteristic black subterminal band on the yellow bill and typically have dark eyes, helping separate them from similar large gulls.
Temperament
social and assertive
Flight Pattern
strong flier with steady wingbeats and frequent soaring
Social Behavior
Nests colonially on islands or isolated shorelines, often in dense groups where pairs defend small territories. Typically monogamous within a breeding season, both sexes sharing incubation and chick-rearing. Will readily form mixed flocks with other large gulls outside the breeding season.
Migratory Pattern
Seasonal migrant
Song Description
Vocalizations are loud, harsh yelps and cackling series, with a characteristic laughing call typical of large gulls. Courtship and territorial displays include repeated kek-kek notes and wails, often delivered in duet by pairs.
Plumage
Adult has clean white head and underparts in breeding season, with a medium-dark grey mantle and black primary tips; head becomes lightly streaked in non-breeding. Juveniles and immatures are mottled brown with progressively greyer mantles as they age.
Diet
An opportunistic omnivore that takes fish, aquatic invertebrates, insects, and small vertebrates. It also scavenges carrion and human refuse and will steal food from other birds. During breeding it forages along lake margins and nearby fields, sometimes following fishing activity.
Preferred Environment
Feeds along shorelines, river mouths, harbors, fish farms, and rubbish tips. In inland areas it uses lake edges, wetlands, and agricultural land, especially freshly ploughed fields.
