Skip to content| Latin name: | Larus saundersi |
| Vietnamese Name: | Mòng bể mỏ ngắn |
| Family: | Laridae |
| Order: | Lariformes |
| Class (Group): | Bird |
Identification
- Short, stocky, black beak.
- Pale white secondary feathers, paler than the upper wing coverts.
- The underside of the outermost four primary feathers are black.
- Faint black stripes on the head.
- In summer, the head and throat are dark green.
Biology and Ecology
- Inhabits wetlands, intertidal zones of coastal estuaries, and large lakes.
- In winter, it forages in the flooded tidal flats of estuaries in Vietnam.
Distribution
- Vietnam: Day River Estuary, Red River Estuary (Nam Dinh), Thai Binh River Estuary (Thai Binh), Van Uc River Estuary (Hai Phong), Quang Ninh (12/2001).
- World: Southeast Asia, China (Hainan, Taiwan, Hong Kong).
Value
- A valuable genetic resource with high scientific value.
Status
- The global population is declining rapidly due to various factors.
- A migratory bird that winters in Vietnam.
- Approximately 200 individuals were observed in the Red River Estuary in March 1989.
- Approximately 160-170 individuals were observed in the Day River Estuary in February 1992.
- Few recent population data available, with sightings becoming increasingly rare in the aforementioned estuaries.
Classification
Conservation Measures
- Protection and proper management of the tidal flats in the Red River and Day River estuaries (Nam Dinh).
- Listed in the Vietnam Red Data Book (1992, 2000) as “Rare” (R).
- Listed in the Asian Red Data Book of Birds (2001) as “Vulnerable” (VU).
