# Yellow-legged Gull (*Larus michahellis*) The Yellow-legged Gull is a large bird that loves to hang out near the sea. With its bright yellow legs and big wings, it can often be seen soaring above the waves or searching for food on the beach. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Coastal areas ![Yellow-legged Gull](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Larus_michahellis_atlantis%252C_Lagoa_do_Fogo%252C_Azores_1a.jpg&width=800) Photo: Cinty Ionescu from Bucharest, Romania, this edit MPF, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Larus_michahellis_atlantis%252C_Lagoa_do_Fogo%252C_Azores_1a.jpg) ## Appearance The Yellow-legged Gull has a striking white body, grey back, and bright yellow legs. Its powerful yellow bill features a distinct red spot near the tip, making it easily identifiable. This species looks similar to the Herring Gull but has darker grey wings and a harsher call. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Charadriiformes - **Family:** Laridae - **Genus:** Larus ## Interesting facts - Some gulls live in big colonies with thousands of other birds, making a noisy home! - These adaptable birds can drink both fresh and saltwater thanks to special glands. - They often steal food from other birds, a trick called kleptoparasitism! - Yellow-legged Gulls build nests on cliffs, rooftops, and even abandoned boats. ## Special abilities - **Eagle Eyes:** Yellow-legged Gulls can spot tiny food items from high in the sky, helping them find meals quickly. - **Master Scavenger:** Yellow-legged Gulls can eat almost anything, allowing them to survive in diverse and changing environments. - **Coastal Acrobat:** Yellow-legged Gulls can glide effortlessly on air currents, conserving energy during long flights over water. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 55-67 cm - **Wingspan:** 130-158 cm - **Weight:** 0.7-1.6 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-25 years - **Speed:** 70 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 2-3 - **Incubation:** 27-31 days - **Migration Distance:** 1500 km ## Diet & Feeding These clever gulls eat almost anything, from fish to discarded human food! - **Primary Foods:** fish, crustaceans, insects, eggs and chicks of other birds, carrion, human refuse - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Common Tern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-tern) (*Sterna hirundo*) — Gulls often prey on the eggs and chicks of this seabird. - **Eats:** [Red Fox](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-fox) (*Vulpes vulpes*) — Foxes are known to predate gull nests, especially eggs and chicks. - **Eaten by:** European Pilchard (*Sardina pilchardus*) — Gulls frequently feed on small fish like pilchards, especially near coasts. - **Eats:** [Brown Rat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-rat) (*Rattus norvegicus*) — Rats can sometimes steal eggs or chicks from gull nests. ## 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. - [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. - [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. - [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 keep a safe distance from birds and don't feed them, as it can make them dependent on people. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Yellow-legged 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 Yellow-legged Gull? 55-67 cm ### What is Yellow-legged Gull's wingspan? 130-158 cm ### How much does Yellow-legged Gull weigh? 0.7-1.6 kg ### How long does Yellow-legged Gull live? 10-25 years ### How fast can Yellow-legged Gull move? 70 km/h ### What does Yellow-legged Gull eat? These clever gulls eat almost anything, from fish to discarded human food! ### Where is Yellow-legged Gull usually found? Coastal areas ## Where to spot - [Bioparc Valencia](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bioparc-valencia) — Valencian Community, ES · Zoo - [Serra Gelada Natural Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/serra-gelada-natural-park) — Comunitat Valenciana, ES · Park - [Cabo Peñas Protected Landscape](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cabo-penas-protected-landscape) — Principado de Asturias, ES · Park - [Cinque Terre National Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cinque-terre-national-park) — IT · Park - [Calanques National Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/calanques-national-park) — Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, FR · Park - [Galician Atlantic Islands National Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/galician-atlantic-islands-national-park) — Rías Baixas, Galicia, ES · Park [View all places to see Yellow-legged Gull](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/yellow-legged-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: [Yellow-legged Gull: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/yellow-legged-gull)