Seagulls, often associated with coastal environments, produce a complex range of sounds. These vocalizations are a form of communication used for various purposes. Understanding these calls offers insight into their social behavior.
Beyond the “Squawk”: A Deeper Look at Seagull Vocalizations
Seagulls employ a diverse range of calls with distinct characteristics. The long call, a common vocalization, often involves high-pitched yelps and can vary in speed and tone. Some species, like the Herring gull, are known for their wide array of discernible calls, while others, such as the Glaucous gull, may have fewer.
Seagulls also produce softer vocalizations, including a wail-like “mew” call and a grunting “choking” call. Chicks, even before hatching, make a “klee-ew” peep, which parents may later use in a softer “baby-talk” version. Specific sounds can vary between species.
Understanding the Purpose: Key Messages in Their Calls
Seagull vocalizations serve various communicative functions. During territorial disputes, seagulls use calls to assert dominance and warn off intruders. The “choking call,” for example, often accompanies displays where a gull indicates it is not moving from a nesting site or feeding area. Loud, insistent screams are also used to defend nesting sites against perceived threats, acting as a warning and soliciting support from other gulls.
Alarm calls signal danger, such as the presence of predators. The “chuckle” call can function as an alarm, and “yeow” calls alert others to threats, their rapidity and shrillness indicating threat severity. These alarm calls can be recognized by other bird species, sometimes eliciting a united response against a common threat.
For food, seagulls use calls to announce discoveries or to beg. Chicks employ high-pitched whining calls to solicit regurgitated food from their parents. Adult gulls may also vocalize when food is present, though the evolutionary advantage of attracting competitors is still debated.
Vocalizations also play a role in mating and courtship rituals. Females may make a “huoh-houh-houh” call to signal readiness to mate, while males respond with similar sounds and long mewing calls. The “mew” call attracts attention from both sexes, including during courtship. Some species use specific mating calls only heard during the breeding season.
Seagulls also use contact calls to maintain cohesion within their flocks, particularly during flight or when separated. This maintains awareness of each other’s locations. Parent-offspring communication is also crucial, with chicks recognizing their parents through individual vocal signatures. Embryos can even “eavesdrop” on parental conversations from inside the egg, influencing their later development and behavior.
Factors Influencing Vocal Behavior
Several factors influence seagull vocalization frequency and intensity. The presence of humans and readily available food sources, like discarded waste, can significantly increase vocal activity in urban areas. Gulls associate human activity with potential food, and studies show they pay attention to human cues when seeking it.
Vocal behavior intensifies significantly during the nesting season, from spring to summer. During this period, territorial defense calls become more frequent as gulls protect their nests and young. Parent-chick interactions, including begging and reassurance calls, also contribute to increased noise. The peak of defensive vocalizations occurs when eggs hatch and when chicks fledge.
The sighting of a predator triggers intense alarm calls, gulls using shriller, more rapid vocalizations as threat levels rise. Research indicates that urban gulls can perceive human shouting as a stressor, responding with similar changes as they do to conspecific alarm calls. Time of day also influences vocal patterns; early morning vocalizations are common as gulls become active at dawn, communicating and coordinating foraging efforts. Larger flock sizes or higher densities of gulls can lead to increased overall noise levels due to more frequent interactions.