Gulls, frequently encountered along coastlines and inland, represent a diverse group of seabirds. These robust, long-winged birds are characterized by their stout bills and webbed feet. Most gulls have harsh, squawking calls and display white and grey plumage, often with black markings on their heads or wings. They are highly adaptable and opportunistic, readily scavenging for food, which contributes to their widespread presence.
Gulls Across the Globe
Gulls breed on every continent, from Antarctica to the Arctic. While less common in tropical regions, some species inhabit islands within these warmer zones. This global presence reflects their adaptability to various climates.
These birds inhabit diverse environments. They are commonly found along coastal areas, where marine resources are abundant, and also thrive around inland waters such as lakes and rivers. Gulls have successfully expanded into urban environments, demonstrating their capacity to coexist with human populations.
Diverse Living Spaces
Gulls utilize varied environments for nesting, feeding, and roosting, reflecting their opportunistic nature. For breeding, gulls favor natural sites like coastal cliffs, isolated islands, and sandy beaches. Many species construct ground nests, often shallow depressions lined with vegetation, feathers, or human-made debris.
As human settlements expand, gulls increasingly adapt to nesting on human-modified structures. Rooftops provide elevated, safe locations that mimic natural cliffs or islands, offering protection from ground predators. These urban nesting sites are common for species like herring gulls and great black-backed gulls.
Their feeding habits are highly flexible, allowing them to exploit a wide array of food sources. Gulls are omnivorous scavengers, consuming marine fish, invertebrates, terrestrial insects, small vertebrates, and carrion. They frequently forage in agricultural fields, landfills, and urban areas like parking lots and near fast-food establishments, taking advantage of discarded human food.
For roosting, gulls seek open locations that offer clear lines of sight to detect potential threats. Natural roosting sites include coastal islands, sandbars, and open water on lakes and at sea. Inland, they may gather in large numbers in open fields, parks, or on the rooftops of large buildings.
Seasonal Journeys
Many gull species undertake seasonal movements, while others remain year-round residents. Gulls in northern latitudes are inclined to migrate, often traveling long distances. These journeys are driven by the need to access better food sources, find more favorable breeding grounds, or escape harsh winter conditions.
For example, Franklin’s gull migrates from Canada to wintering grounds off the west coast of South America. Sabine’s gull travels from Arctic coasts to wintering areas off South America and Africa. Other species engage in shorter, more localized movements, sometimes dispersing inland from coastal breeding sites during the non-breeding season.
Migrations begin in late summer or early fall, with birds returning to breeding grounds in spring. Food availability heavily influences their migratory routes and destinations. Climate change can also impact these patterns, as warmer winters may alter food distribution and the suitability of habitats along their traditional routes.