Armenian gull
Larus armenicus
Local namesvan martısı
- Do not touch
- May carry disease
Do not handle sick or dead gulls. Gulls feeding at rubbish dumps and sewage outfalls can carry Salmonella and Campylobacter, and they are among the first species hit in avian influenza outbreaks. Leave dead birds where they are, report them, and wash your hands after any contact.
Key identifying features
A complete black band across both mandibles just in front of the red gonys spot — lacking in the yellow-legged and Caspian gulls
Dark brown iris with a red orbital ring; yellow-legged gull has a pale yellow iris
Short bill thickened towards the tip and a rounded head give a blunter profile than yellow-legged gull
Extensive black wingtip carrying a single small white mirror
Yellow legs and a mantle a shade darker grey than yellow-legged gull
Bird
- Lakes
- Wetland
- Coast
- In Türkiye
- Partial migrant — some leave, some stay
- Length
- 52–62 cm
- Wingspan
- 120–145 cm
- Family
- Laridae
- Conservation status
- Near threatened
Similar species
Identification suggestions (from the community or from AI) and the information here may be wrong; this app never confirms that anything is safe to eat. Do not consume wild plants, mushrooms or seafood without expert confirmation. Nothing here is medical advice.