Gulls are a familiar sight globally, often seen soaring above coastlines or congregating in urban areas. While commonly referred to as “seagulls,” this term is misleading as it implies a single species and suggests an exclusive marine habitat. In reality, gulls represent a diverse group of birds, widespread across various environments, and are frequently misunderstood. Understanding these birds reveals their remarkable adaptability and the intricate ways they interact with their surroundings.
Identifying Features and Diversity
Gulls are robust birds characterized by white bodies and varying shades of gray or black on their wings and backs. Their plumage can differ with age and season, making identification challenging for some species. They possess strong, slightly hooked bills, which can be yellow with a red spot in larger species, or darker in smaller ones. Gulls also have webbed feet, making them adept swimmers, and moderately long legs suitable for walking on land.
Their size varies considerably among species. The little gull measures around 29 centimeters (11.5 inches) and weighs about 120 grams (4.25 ounces), while the great black-backed gull can reach up to 76 centimeters (30 inches) and weigh 1.75 kilograms (3.8 pounds). There are over 40 recognized species of gulls globally. This diversity extends beyond size to subtle differences in bill shape, leg color, and wing patterns, allowing them to occupy various ecological niches.
Where Gulls Live and What They Eat
Gulls inhabit a wide range of environments, extending beyond coastal regions. While many species are indeed found along oceans, bays, and major lakes, numerous gulls thrive inland near rivers, farmlands, and even deserts. Increasingly, gulls have adapted to urban landscapes, frequenting cities, waste dumps, and populated areas, often nesting on rooftops.
Gulls are omnivorous, consuming a diverse array of food items. Their natural diet includes fish, marine and freshwater invertebrates, crustaceans, insects, earthworms, small rodents, and the eggs or chicks of other birds. They are also skilled scavengers, feeding on carrion, offal, and human refuse. This dietary flexibility allows them to sustain themselves in varied habitats.
Common Behaviors and Adaptations
Gulls exhibit complex social behaviors and intelligence. They are highly social birds, often nesting in large, densely packed colonies. Within these colonies, gulls communicate through a variety of calls and body language, conveying information about food, predators, or territory. Their collective intelligence is evident in coordinated actions, such as mobbing predators or cooperating to find food sources.
Their problem-solving abilities are well-documented, including using tools like dropping hard-shelled prey onto rocks to break them open. Gulls also display unique foraging techniques, such as “foot-paddling” in shallow water to stir up prey or washing food items before consumption. In human-dominated areas, gulls have learned to adapt their foraging strategies to human activity patterns, observing people to identify food opportunities. This combination of physical traits, intelligence, and behavioral flexibility enables gulls to thrive across diverse environments.