# Mediterranean Gull (*Ichthyaetus melanocephalus*) The Mediterranean Gull is a beautiful bird with a black head and a bright white body. It loves to live near the sea and can often be seen flying over beaches and coastal areas. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Coastal areas ![Mediterranean Gull](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/2013-08-01_Ichthyaetus_melanocephalus%252C_Brierdene%252C_Whitley_Bay%252C_Northumberland_1.jpg&width=800) Photo: MPF, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2013-08-01_Ichthyaetus_melanocephalus%252C_Brierdene%252C_Whitley_Bay%252C_Northumberland_1.jpg) ## Appearance The Mediterranean Gull has a distinctive black head during breeding, bright red bill and legs, and pale grey upperparts. Unlike other gulls, its wingtips are entirely white, making it stand out visually. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Charadriiformes - **Family:** Laridae - **Genus:** Ichthyaetus ## Interesting facts - Despite its name, many now breed far from the Mediterranean Sea! - Their breeding range has expanded dramatically northwards in recent decades! - They often gather in huge flocks, sometimes thousands strong! - Young gulls take two years to grow their full black head feathering! ## Special abilities - **Laughing Call:** Mediterranean Gull has a unique 'laughing' call that helps them communicate across noisy environments. - **Adaptable Forager:** Mediterranean Gull can find food in diverse habitats because of its flexible diet and keen eyesight. - **Aerial Agility:** Mediterranean Gull can perform agile aerial maneuvers because of its streamlined body and strong wings. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 36-40 cm - **Wingspan:** 90-100 cm - **Weight:** 0.2-0.35 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-15 years - **Speed:** 50 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 2-3 - **Incubation:** 23-26 days - **Migration Distance:** 1500 km ## Diet & Feeding This gull enjoys a varied menu, from insects and worms to small fish and scraps! - **Primary Foods:** insects, earthworms, small fish, crustaceans, agricultural waste, seeds - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Common Earthworm (*Lumbricus terrestris*) — Consumes them from soil in fields. - **Shelter:** [Black-headed Gull](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-headed-gull) (*Chroicocephalus ridibundus*) — Often nests in mixed colonies for collective defense. - **Eats:** Boye's Silverside (*Atherina boyeri*) — Preys on small schooling fish near coasts. - **Eats:** Common Wheat (*Triticum aestivum*) — Feeds on discarded grains in farm fields. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [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. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [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. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [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:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch birds from a distance and don't try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Mediterranean 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 Mediterranean Gull? 36-40 cm ### What is Mediterranean Gull's wingspan? 90-100 cm ### How much does Mediterranean Gull weigh? 0.2-0.35 kg ### How long does Mediterranean Gull live? 10-15 years ### How fast can Mediterranean Gull move? 50 km/h ### What does Mediterranean Gull eat? This gull enjoys a varied menu, from insects and worms to small fish and scraps! ### Where is Mediterranean Gull usually found? Coastal areas ## 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: [Mediterranean Gull: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mediterranean-gull)