# Olympic Gull (*Larus glaucescens × occidentalis*) The Olympic Gull is a special bird that loves to hang out near the ocean. With its striking white and gray feathers, it looks like a little cloud flying in the sky! - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 8 - **Habitat:** Coastal areas ![Olympic Gull](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Seagull_in_flightt.jpg&width=800) Photo: Deathgleaner, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Seagull_in_flightt.jpg) ## Appearance The Olympic Gull has a striking medium-grey back and wings, often showing a mix of dark and pale grey on its wingtips. Its bill is thick and yellowish, usually marked with a distinct red spot near the tip, and it possesses keen, dark eyes. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Charadriiformes - **Family:** Laridae - **Genus:** Larus ## Interesting facts - Olympic Gulls are unique because they are a mix of two different gull species! - Some Olympic Gulls follow fishing boats for miles, hoping for a free meal! - These clever birds sometimes drop hard shells onto rocks to crack them open. - They can drink saltwater, thanks to special glands that filter out the extra salt. ## Special abilities - **Master Scavenger:** Olympic Gull can find food anywhere because of its sharp eyesight and strong bill that helps them eat many different things. - **Adaptable Survivor:** Olympic Gull has the ability to thrive in coastal cities and wild beaches because of its flexible diet and clever problem-solving skills. - **Soaring Champion:** Olympic Gull can glide effortlessly on air currents because of its large wingspan that helps them save energy while searching for food. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 55-68 cm - **Wingspan:** 137-153 cm - **Weight:** 0.8-1.5 kg - **Lifespan:** 20-30 years - **Speed:** 70 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 2-4 - **Incubation:** 25-30 days - **Migration Distance:** 200 km ## Diet & Feeding This opportunistic bird eats almost anything it can find, from fish to human scraps. - **Age differences:** Adults feed offspring regurgitated food. - **Primary Foods:** fish, crabs, mollusks, insects, carrion, human refuse - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Bald Eagle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bald-eagle) (*Haliaeetus leucocephalus*) — Adults and chicks can be prey for large raptors. - **Eats:** [Dungeness Crab](https://www.snappit.app/explore/dungeness-crab) (*Cancer magister*) — Gulls often crack open crab shells to eat the soft meat inside. - **Eats:** [Pacific Herring](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pacific-herring) (*Clupea pallasii*) — They frequently catch and eat small fish from coastal waters. - **Eats:** California Mussel (*Mytilus californianus*) — Gulls drop these mussels from heights to break their shells. ## 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. - [Scavenger](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/scavenger): Scavengers consume dead organic matter, helping to decompose carcasses and other waste in the ecosystem. - [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. - [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. - [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 Always watch from a distance and don't feed the gulls, as they can be very curious! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Olympic 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 Olympic Gull? 55-68 cm ### What is Olympic Gull's wingspan? 137-153 cm ### How much does Olympic Gull weigh? 0.8-1.5 kg ### How long does Olympic Gull live? 20-30 years ### How fast can Olympic Gull move? 70 km/h ### What does Olympic Gull eat? This opportunistic bird eats almost anything it can find, from fish to human scraps. ### Where is Olympic Gull usually found? Coastal areas ## Where to spot - [Pike Place Market](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/pike-place-market) — Washington, US · Historic District - [Pioneer Square](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/pioneer-square) — Washington, US · Neighborhood - [East Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/east-park) — Washington, US · Park - [Illahee State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/illahee-state-park) — Washington, US · State Park - [Seattle Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/seattle-aquarium-washington) — Washington, US · Zoo - [Chinatown-International District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chinatown-international-district) — Washington, US · Historic District [View all places to see Olympic Gull](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/olympic-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: [Olympic Gull: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/olympic-gull)