Seagulls, more accurately termed gulls, are familiar birds often observed along coastlines worldwide. While their presence near human activity and shorelines is common, their capacity for flight allows them to cover considerable distances. Understanding their movements reveals an adaptable nature, where their range can extend from immediate coastal waters to vast stretches of open ocean, depending on various influences.
Daily Flight Patterns from Shore
Gulls typically conduct daily activities within a short range of their roosting or nesting sites, usually a few to tens of miles from the coastline. They rely on coastal food sources, including marine prey like fish and shellfish, and human sources such as discards from fishing boats and landfills. For instance, some Ring-billed Gulls in the Great Lakes region travel an average of 15 miles daily for human-related food. While routine foraging is closer, gulls can fly over 100 miles in a single day commuting between feeding and nesting locations.
Gulls searching for food generally fly at lower altitudes, 20 to 50 meters above sea level, though they can ascend to 200 meters over the sea. While some species, like Black-tailed Gulls, range over broader marine areas targeting floating fish and squid, many primarily focus on coastal foraging sites like intertidal zones and harbors.
Factors Affecting Flight Distance
Several elements influence how far gulls venture from land. Food availability is a key influence; if natural prey becomes scarce, gulls may travel significant distances, even hundreds of miles, to locate alternative food sources. This often leads them to human food sources, such as garbage dumps, which can draw them far inland.
Weather conditions also play a role in their flight patterns. Gulls efficiently utilize wind currents and updrafts to conserve energy. They often adjust flight height and airspeed in response to wind strength and direction, flying higher with greater tailwind speed for wind assistance. Gulls may also move inland to seek shelter during storms.
During the breeding season (spring and summer), gulls tend to remain closer to their nesting colonies. They establish territories and build nests on cliffs, islands, sandy beaches, or rooftops. Their home range during this period centers around the breeding colony and nearby coastal areas, limiting daily offshore excursions. However, human activities like offshore fishing vessels can create opportunistic feeding grounds, drawing gulls further from shore than usual.
Variations Among Gull Species
The term “seagull” encompasses 45-50 species, each with distinct flight habits and habitats. Some are primarily coastal, rarely venturing far inland. Western Gulls, for example, are rarely seen more than two miles inland. Herring Gulls, common globally, are versatile, found near various water bodies, open fields, and landfills, but favor coastal environments. Ring-billed Gulls often inhabit inland areas near rivers and lakes.
Other gull species are accustomed to pelagic (open ocean) environments. Kittiwakes, for instance, are smaller pelagic gulls found over open water, preying on fish and marine organisms. Larger species like the Great Black-backed Gull can also be found far out at sea. Some Glaucous-winged and Herring Gulls have been sighted hundreds of miles offshore, with records up to 500-600 miles off California, Washington, and Oregon. Lesser Black-backed Gulls lead a pelagic existence, with fishing trips extending up to 180 km (112 miles) from nests even during the breeding season.
Long-Distance Journeys and Migration
While daily flights are confined, many gull species undertake long journeys far from land during migration. Gulls breeding in northern latitudes often migrate to warmer regions to escape cold and food scarcity. These are not typical daily foraging trips, but seasonal shifts driven by survival needs.
Some Lesser Black-backed Gulls, for example, show remarkable migratory capabilities, covering up to 7,500 km (4,660 miles) from Europe to wintering areas in East Africa. Franklin’s Gulls undertake extensive migrations, traveling from Canada as far south as Argentina. During these long flights, gulls can achieve high altitudes, with some recorded at 5,000 meters (3.1 miles). They often migrate in large groups, sometimes forming V-formations to conserve energy.