# Gull (*Larus*) Gulls are seabirds that can be found near oceans, lakes, and rivers. They have white feathers, long wings, and can be seen diving into the water to catch fish. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Coastal areas - **Also known as:** Sea Gull, Seagull ![Gull](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426494/objects/6142.jpg) ## Appearance The Gull is a sturdy bird with long wings and webbed feet, typically featuring a white body, grey back, and black wingtips. Its strong, often yellow, hooked bill helps distinguish it from other seabirds, and most have bright, watchful eyes. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Charadriiformes - **Family:** Laridae - **Genus:** Larus ## Interesting facts - Gull chicks often wear camouflage to hide from hungry predators. - Gulls can follow fishing boats for miles to catch tossed fish. - Gulls often steal food from other birds right out of the air! - Some gulls use bread to bait fish like clever anglers! ## Special abilities - **Shell Smasher:** Gull can break open shellfish because of their skill in dropping them onto hard surfaces from the air. - **Saltwater Sipper:** Gull can drink salty ocean water because they have special glands that help them remove excess salt. - **Master Scavenger:** Gull can find food almost anywhere because of their adaptable diet and keen eyesight that helps them spot scraps. - **Acrobatic Flight:** Gull has powerful wings that help them soar and glide effortlessly for long distances over land and sea. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 30-75 cm - **Wingspan:** 90-170 cm - **Weight:** 0.3-2 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-20 years - **Speed:** 55 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 2-4 - **Incubation:** 20-30 days - **Migration Distance:** 1500 km ## Diet & Feeding Gulls are resourceful birds, eating almost anything from fish to human leftovers or eggs. - **Age differences:** Young gulls are fed by parents and gradually learn to forage on their own. - **Primary Foods:** fish, crustaceans, insects, eggs, berries, scraps - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Red Fox](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-fox) (*Vulpes vulpes*) — Red foxes often raid gull nests for eggs and chicks. - **Eaten by:** [Brown Rat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-rat) (*Rattus norvegicus*) — Rats are opportunistic predators of gull eggs and young nestlings. - **Hunts:** Common Mussel (*Mytilus edulis*) — Gulls hunt these mussels, often dropping them to break their shells. - **Depends on:** [Human](https://www.snappit.app/explore/human) (*Homo sapiens*) — Gulls often depend on human activities for easily available food scraps. ## Traits - [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. - [Aerial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aerial): Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [Scavenger](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/scavenger): Scavengers consume dead organic matter, helping to decompose carcasses and other waste in the ecosystem. - [Gliding](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/gliding): Gliding animals move through the air by launching themselves and maintaining flight with specialized body structures, without flapping wings. - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [Tool Use](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/tool-use): This trait describes organisms that manipulate external objects to achieve a specific goal. - [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. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Avoid feeding gulls human food as it can be harmful to them. Enjoy watching them from a safe distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify 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 Gull? 30-75 cm ### What is Gull's wingspan? 90-170 cm ### How much does Gull weigh? 0.3-2 kg ### How long does Gull live? 10-20 years ### How fast can Gull move? 55 km/h ### What does Gull eat? Gulls are resourceful birds, eating almost anything from fish to human leftovers or eggs. ### Where is Gull usually found? Coastal areas ## Where to spot - [Bright Angel Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bright-angel-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park ## 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: [Gull: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/gull)