In Kamensky, rare red-listed birds were photographed in their stunning courtship plumage (PHOTO).

Photographer Yuriy Mukhin from Dnipro visited Kamianske and captured images of rare birds listed in the Red Book of Ukraine. The focus is on the Caspian gull, also known as the black-headed laughing gull. He shared his photos and stories about these fascinating guests in the Facebook community "Birds of Ukraine," reports "Vidomo."

"This was in Kamianske, yesterday it happened... I don't know how many birds there were! In just one shot, there were 6. And that's only one location, plus they were young. Already in breeding plumage (which is normal for February). I read that they nest at the Kremenchuk Reservoir, perhaps they have started near Kamianske as well..." – noted Mukhin, indicating that the photographs were taken on February 13, 2025.

The Caspian gull, or black-headed laughing gull (Larus ichthyaetus), is a nesting, migratory bird in Ukraine, occasionally wintering. Furthermore, it is the largest bird in this family. Its unusual name comes from its voice, or rather its cry, which resembles a piercing and slightly hysterical laugh. This is why the gull is referred to as "laughing."

These birds nest in colonies of varying sizes or in solitary pairs. In colonies, there is always a reserve of solitary, even adult individuals.

An interesting feature of these birds is their "costume change": an adult bird in breeding plumage has a black head, grayish-black inner wing surfaces, gray back and upper wings, while the rest of the plumage is white. The beak and legs are red, and the iris of the eye is dark brown. These are the types of birds Yuriy Mukhin photographed.

In their non-breeding "outfit," these birds have a white head with dark brown shades and dark brown spots behind the eyes. Their beak is dark brown, and their legs are pinkish-gray.

Caspian gull in non-breeding plumage

The black-headed laughing gull consumes both aquatic and terrestrial animals, but fish constitutes the main part of its diet. Occasionally, these gulls hunt for ground squirrels, jerboas, eat the eggs and chicks of other birds, lizards, beetles, and locusts.

The Caspian gull is protected under the Red Book of Ukraine (status – endangered), as well as the Bonn and Bern Conventions, and the AEWA Agreement.