Gulls

Gulls belong to a bird family known as Laridae.

In common usage, members of various gull species are often called seagulls or seagulls.

They are most closely related to the terns (family Sternidae), auks, and skimmers, and more distantly to the waders. Most gulls belong to the large genus Larus.

Apart from the kittiwakes, gulls are typically coastal or inland species, rarely venturing far out to sea.

Index of Gull / Seagull Species

Description

They are generally medium to large birds, typically grey or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have stout, longish bills and webbed feet.

The larger species take up to four years to attain full adult plumage, but two years is typical for smaller gulls.

Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) - Showing Aggression

Great Black-back Gull

Diet / Feeding

Most gulls, particularly the Larus species, are ground-nesting carnivores, which will take live food or scavenge opportunistically. The live food often includes crabs and small fish.

Many species of gull have learned to co-exist successfully with man and have thrived in human habitats.

Others rely on kleptoparasitism* to get their food (*a form of feeding where one animal takes prey from another).

Behavior

Gulls — the larger species in particular — are resourceful and highly-intelligent birds, demonstrating complex methods of communication and a highly-developed social structure. Certain species (e.g. the Herring Gull) have exhibited tool-use behavior.

Sea Gulls
Sea Gulls
Sea Gull
Flying Seagull

Black-tailed Gull

Two terms are in common usage among gull enthusiasts for subgroupings of the gulls:

Hybridisation between species of gull occurs quite frequently, although to varying degrees depending on the species involved. The taxonomy of the large white-headed gulls is particularly complicated.

Index of Gull / Seagull Species

Sea Gulls
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Gordon Ramel

Gordon is an ecologist with two degrees from Exeter University. He's also a teacher, a poet and the owner of 1,152 books. Oh - and he wrote this website.

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