# California Gull (*Larus californicus*) California Gulls are fun birds that live near the coast and love to eat fish! They have gray wings and a bright white body, making them easy to spot when they fly. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 4 - **Habitat:** Coastal areas ![California Gull](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Adult_California_gull.jpg&width=800) Photo: Alan Vernon, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Adult_California_gull.jpg) ## Appearance The California Gull has a medium-grey back and wings, with white underparts. Its wingtips are black with distinct white spots. It has a yellow bill with a noticeable black and red spot near the tip, and yellowish-green legs. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Charadriiformes - **Family:** Laridae - **Genus:** Larus ## Interesting facts - California Gulls are the state bird of Utah, even though they aren't unique to California! - Some California Gulls use warm air currents to soar high in the sky without flapping their wings! - Their eggs come in cool speckled colors, helping them hide on the ground! - They helped save early Mormon settlers' crops from crickets, earning them a monument! ## Special abilities - **Saltwater Purifiers:** California Gulls can drink saltwater because they have special glands that remove excess salt, helping them survive far from fresh water. - **Tool-Using Foragers:** California Gulls sometimes drop shellfish onto hard surfaces to crack them open, demonstrating clever problem-solving skills. - **Adaptable Gourmets:** California Gulls can digest a huge variety of foods, from insects to human leftovers, because of their robust digestive system. - **Airborne Navigators:** California Gulls can travel thousands of kilometers during migration due to their strong wings and efficient flight. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 46-56 cm - **Wingspan:** 120-140 cm - **Weight:** 0.43-1 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-25 years - **Speed:** 55 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 2-4 - **Incubation:** 22-26 days - **Migration Distance:** 3000 km ## Diet & Feeding An opportunistic eater, munching on insects, fish, eggs, and almost any food scraps! - **Primary Foods:** Insects, Fish, Eggs, Small rodents, Crustaceans, Carrion - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Bald Eagle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bald-eagle) (*Haliaeetus leucocephalus*) — Adults can be hunted. - **Eaten by:** [Common Raven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-raven) (*Corvus corax*) — Eggs and chicks are preyed upon. - **Eaten by:** [Coyote](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coyote) (*Canis latrans*) — Ground nests are vulnerable. - **Eats:** Mormon Cricket (*Anabrus simplex*) — A historic and important food source. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Webbed Feet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/webbed-feet): Characterized by having toes connected by a membrane, typically aiding in swimming. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Marine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/marine): Marine habitats encompass all saltwater environments of the Earth's oceans, supporting an immense diversity of aquatic life. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Watch from a distance and don't feed the gulls, as they can get too close! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify California Gull? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is California Gull? 46-56 cm ### What is California Gull's wingspan? 120-140 cm ### How much does California Gull weigh? 0.43-1 kg ### How long does California Gull live? 10-25 years ### How fast can California Gull move? 55 km/h ### What does California Gull eat? An opportunistic eater, munching on insects, fish, eggs, and almost any food scraps! ### Where is California Gull usually found? Coastal areas ## Where to spot - [Palo Alto Baylands Nature Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/palo-alto-baylands-nature-preserve) — California, US · Nature Reserve - [Professorville](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/professorville) — California, US · Park - [Sod House Ranch](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sod-house-ranch) — Oregon, US · Historic Site - [Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/guadalupe-nipomo-dunes) — California, US · Natural Landmark - [Leather and LGBTQ Cultural District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/leather-and-lgbtq-cultural-district) — California, US · Historic District - [Russian Hill-Paris Block Architectural District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/russian-hill-paris-block-architectural-district) — California, US · Historic District [View all places to see California Gull](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/california-gull) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [California Gull: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-gull)