I went to see the Gray-headed/hooded Gull at Coney Island in Brooklyn this morning with Sean Sime and Ann Shaw. (The bird goes by either name depending on which reference you are reading.) We were lucky and the bird was very cooperative sitting on the beach by the fake palm tree/water shower south of the Wonder Wheel when we got there. We watched it for about an hour and when we left it was standing on a light over one of the food stands on the boardwalk.
Naturally, there has been discussion of the bird's origin with some comments that the species is only a short distance migrant in southern South America and hence is unlikely to stray to North America. Apparently, this is based on some references which show the species range as such (i.e. Howell and Dunn - Gulls of the Americas (2007)). This indicated range, however, is incorrect. The species regularly migrates to the north coast of Brazil. During tern survey work in Brazil I have several times seen small flocks of the species on the north coast of Brazil on the coast of the Brazilian state of Ceara and at least once even further northwest on the coast of the Brazilian state of Maranhao near the mouth of the Rio Parnaiba. In Ceara the Gray-headed Gulls were on the same beaches with Laughing Gulls. There are some references which do show this area as part of the species wintering range: Seabirds: An Identification Guide (1983) by Peter Harrison and A Field Guide to the Birds of Brazil (2009) by Per van Perlo. The north coast of Brazil is a very under-birded area. Joe DiCostanzo -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
