Seagulls are highly vocal birds, often recognized by their distinctive sounds along coastlines and inland areas. Their diverse vocalizations form a complex communication system, crucial for conveying messages within their colonies and among individual birds. Understanding these vocalizations helps reveal their intricate social lives.
The Main Melodies: Common Seagull Calls
One of the most recognizable seagull sounds is their loud “laughing” or “long call.” This raucous, repetitive call varies in pitch and tone, serving multiple purposes from warning of danger to signaling food sources. The Herring Gull (Larus argentatus), a widely studied species, exhibits this characteristic long call, which is a common auditory backdrop where gulls congregate.
Beyond the prominent “laughing” call, seagulls produce a variety of squawks, wails, and cries. These sounds are often harsh and wailing, typical vocalizations for many gull species. They contribute to the overall communication network within a gull flock, with the specific type of call, its pitch, and repetition conveying messages.
Understanding Specific Vocalizations
Seagulls employ a precise array of calls, each tailored to specific situations and conveying distinct information. Alarm calls, for example, are typically loud, sharp squawks used to alert other gulls to potential threats, such as predators or human interference. The urgency and frequency of these squawks can indicate the perceived level of danger, prompting varying responses from the flock.
During courtship and mating, seagulls use softer, more rhythmic vocalizations. Female gulls may emit a call accompanied by submissive body language to signal readiness to mate. Males respond with similar sounds, including long mewing calls, as part of their display. This single-note mewing call is also used by both sexes to attract attention in various contexts, such as approaching the nest.
When a food source is discovered, seagulls often emit excited calls that attract other members of their flock. These food calls can be described as “laughs” or “croons” and typically draw a crowd of gulls hoping to share the meal. Conversely, territorial calls are used to defend nesting sites or feeding grounds, ranging from aggressive squawks to a specific “mew” sound used to call for backup during disputes. A notable territorial display is the “choking call,” a repeated “huoh-huoh-huoh” delivered with a leaning posture, signaling a firm stance on their position.
Why Seagulls Communicate Through Sound
Vocal communication is fundamental to the social structure and survival of seagulls. Their sounds play a significant role in maintaining flock cohesion, helping large groups of birds stay together and coordinate activities. Gulls demonstrate complex communication and a highly developed social structure, allowing for efficient organization within their often densely packed colonies.
Seagulls use vocalizations for critical functions like warning of approaching predators, facilitating mate attraction and pair-bonding, and defending nesting sites and territories. The intensity and type of calls can inform other gulls about the nature of a threat or social interaction.