Vega Gull

The Vega gull, East Siberian gull or East Siberian herring gull is a large gull of the herring gull and lesser black-backed gull complex that breeds in north-east Asia. It is similar to the herring gull but slightly darker grey above. In winter the head is heavily streaked with brown, especially on the back and sides of the neck, forming a collar. Eye colour is variable but tends to be dark with a red orbital ring (Wikipedia, general species account).

Birds in the north-western part of the breeding range are paler above. Vega gulls breed in north-eastern Siberia and migrate south to winter in Japan, Korea, eastern China and Taiwan; they may also breed on St Lawrence Island and at Nome, Alaska (Wikipedia, general species account).