FaunaHub

Seagull (Gull) (family Laridae)

BirdCoastalHighly adaptable

European herring gull (Larus argentatus) standing, showing grey wings and yellow bill.

European herring gull (Larus argentatus).

Image: Basile Morin, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Overview

Gulls — popularly called “seagulls” — are familiar, adaptable birds of the family Laridae. There are many species; the European herring gull (Larus argentatus), shown here, is a classic large gull with a white body, grey wings, a yellow bill with a red spot, and pink legs. Despite the name, many gulls live well inland as well as along coasts.

Gulls are intelligent, opportunistic, and remarkably successful, thriving around shorelines, lakes, farmland, rubbish tips, and city rooftops alike.

Note: “gull” covers many species that can be hard to tell apart and that change plumage with age, so details vary. Treat general statements as approximate and verify against authoritative sources.

Habitat & Range

Gulls are found worldwide, most abundantly along coasts but also inland around lakes, rivers, farmland, and towns. Many species are highly adaptable and have moved into urban areas, nesting on rooftops and feeding on a wide range of foods provided, deliberately or not, by people.

Diet

Gulls are opportunistic omnivores. Depending on the species and setting, they eat fish, marine invertebrates, insects, eggs and chicks of other birds, carrion, scraps, and human food waste. This dietary flexibility is a key reason gulls are so widespread and successful.

Behavior

Gulls are social and often nest in colonies. They are notably intelligent: some drop shellfish onto rocks to break them open, “paddle” on wet ground to bring up worms, and quickly learn to exploit new food sources, including snatching food in towns. Larger gulls take years to reach adult plumage, passing through a series of mottled brown immature stages.

Human Interaction & Conservation

Gulls live closely alongside people, which brings both fascination and conflict — they can be bold around food in coastal towns. Many gull species are common, though some are of conservation concern, and their move into cities reflects changes in natural food and habitat. Consult authoritative sources for species-specific status.

More photos of the seagull (gull)

A herring gull at the coast.

Herring gull (Larus argentatus), France.

Image: Ввласенко, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Frequently Asked Questions — Seagull (Gull)

Is "seagull" the correct name?
"Seagull" is a popular catch-all name, but there is no single bird called just the seagull. The correct term is gull (family Laridae), of which there are many species. Many gulls are not strictly tied to the sea and live around inland water and farmland too.
Why are gulls so common in towns and cities?
Gulls are intelligent and opportunistic, and towns offer reliable food (from waste and people) and safe rooftop nesting sites. As some natural food sources changed, many gulls adapted to urban life, where they thrive — sometimes to the annoyance of residents.
What do gulls eat?
Almost anything. Gulls are opportunistic omnivores, taking fish and marine invertebrates, insects, eggs and chicks, carrion, scraps, and human food waste. This very broad diet is central to their success across so many habitats.
Are gulls intelligent?
Yes, notably so. Gulls show clever feeding behaviours — dropping shellfish to crack them, foot-paddling to lure up worms, and rapidly learning to exploit new food sources, including taking food in busy human settings. They are among the more adaptable, problem-solving birds.

Sources and further reading

Authoritative wildlife references used for general educational context. Conservation status should always be verified against current IUCN Red List data. External links open in a new tab.