The Characteristics Of The Seagull

The seagull is a very intelligent bird, which is distinguished by its communication skills. It is also very adept at moving in water thanks to its webbed toe paws.

Do you know the characteristics of the seagull? This bird species is very popular in both America and Europe. It belongs to the Laridae family  , of the seabirds of the order of the Charadriiformes. This type of bird lives all over the world, except in deserts, rainforests, and some islands in the Pacific and Antarctic.

In this article, we will talk about the characteristics of the seagull .

The characteristics of the seagull

The seagull has a plumage usually gray, white or black, with black details on the head and wings. It has short legs and a strong, long, hooked yellow beak.

As for the size of this bird, there are several variations: the dwarf gull weighs about 120 grams and measures 29 centimeters; the Atlantic gull weighs 1.75 kilos and measures 76 centimeters in height.

They are very adept creatures to move in water, thanks to their legs with webbed fingers, joined by a membrane.

Another feature of seagulls is their remarkable intelligence. Thanks to it, throughout history they have managed to develop communication processes and a real social organization.

For this reason, it is common to find it alone, isolated or even together with other birds.

The feeding of the seagull

The seagull is always looking for food. It is a carnivorous bird and its diet is mainly based on the consumption of different marine animals such as fish, squid or crab.

It also eats insects and decaying food remnants and even vegetables.

The advantage of this seabird is that its diet is very varied, so it has no problems feeding in both populated and uninhabited regions.

It always finds what to eat and also feeds on small rodents and doves or other birds.

Reproduction of the seagull

Gulls are monogamous birds, so they always mate with the same partner. Even if they don’t stay together all year, when mating season comes they call and nest in the same place. The nest is usually made up of several types of leaves.

The female normally lays between two and three eggs and the incubation period lasts between 26 and 28 days. Once the chicks have hatched, the parents are responsible for providing heat and food. There is always an adult on guard at the nest so that predators do not approach.

The behavior of the seagull

Gulls are very sociable birds, they love to be in groups and, in general, they are found along coasts, lakes or beaches. They look after each other by warning when there is danger, and even if there is food nearby.

These birds establish a very close communication relationship between them, which manifests itself mainly in their attitudes, calls and movements.

Everything is connected: the interaction between them, the choice of the couple, the protection of the territory. They are birds with exceptional organization.

A curious fact about seagulls is that, after four years of birth, they are expelled by the older ones.

By now they already know how to get food, but when they are expelled they are forced to look for other coasts far from their initial group.

Classification of seagulls: the four best known

Although there are many types of seagulls, around 47 different, there are four of the best known.

• One is the modest or gray gull, which normally inhabits warm areas of the Northern Hemisphere and the Mediterranean. The gray gull usually nests on the coast and, sometimes, in meadows away from the water.
• Another widely recognized species is the laughing gull. Its name refers to the sound emitted, which is very similar to that of laughter. This type of seagull changes its plumage: it has a chocolate-colored head, while the beak and legs are red during the summer and white in the winter.
• There is also the silver gull, which normally lives in northern Europe. It is a bit aggressive and loud. The silver gull is usually found in populated areas and its diet is mainly based on food scraps from garbage and crops. They can also be seen near the fishing boats, waiting to catch the remains of the fish that are thrown into the sea.

• Finally, there is the popular southern saffron. It is one of the most common, it has a white body, and its back and wings are black. It is usually found where people pass and in areas where food is loaded and unloaded.