Pallas's Gull

Pallas's gull is a very large gull with long wings, a heavy yellow bill and a striking breeding pattern. Adults in summer have a black hood, narrow white crescents around the eye, a grey mantle and largely white body; the outer primaries show black and white. The hood is lost in winter, when dark streaking remains around the head. Young birds take several years to acquire the clean adult plumage and show extensive brown markings. (Wikipedia, Pallas's gull account)

The species breeds around large lakes and wetlands from the Black and Caspian Sea region eastward through Central Asia. It nests colonially, usually on islands or other open ground near water, and moves south after breeding to coastal and inland waters. Fish form an important part of the diet, but it also takes other animal food and may forage opportunistically. Its powerful flight and size make it conspicuous around open lakes, especially where adults gather in breeding plumage. (Wikipedia, Pallas's gull account)