Seagulls are noisy birds that are known for their loud, squawking calls. Their squawks serve many purposes, from communicating with other gulls to expressing alarm or excitement. When seagulls squawk, they are speaking a language all their own.
Seagull Squawks as Communication
One of the main reasons seagulls squawk is to communicate with other seagulls. They have an extensive vocabulary of squawks, calls, and vocalizations that serve different functions.
Some common seagull squawks and what they mean include:
| Squawk | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Short, repeated squawks | Communicating location to the flock or trying to attract a mate |
| Long, wailing squawk | Warning or alarm call |
| Harsh, staccato squawk | Begging for food from parents or humans |
| Soft chirping | Communication between mates or chicks |
Seagulls use squawks not only to convey information but to signal their location. Flocks of seagulls will squawk loudly to help members of the flock stay in contact, especially when seeking food. The short, repetitive squawks help the gulls maintain coordination while flying and foraging.
Alarm and Warning Squawks
One very common seagull squawk is the loud, urgent wailing noise they make. This type of vocalization serves as an alarm call to other gulls. When a seagull senses danger, such as a predator or a human getting too close to its nest, it will let out a harsh, repetitive wailing sound.
This functions to warn other gulls of the potential threat so they can take action. The alarm call gets the attention of other gulls quickly and puts them on alert. This loud wailing noise can be annoying to humans but it is an essential survival communication technique for seagulls.
Food Begging Squawks
Another very familiar seagull squawk is the harsh, staccato sound they make when begging for food. These begging calls start soon after hatching. Seagull chicks will beg from their parents by making loud, repetitive squawks, sometimes while flapping their wings. This serves to signal to the parent birds that they are hungry and need to be fed.
As the chicks get older, they will often extend this begging behavior to humans. When seagulls squawk at people in this way, they are hoping to be tossed some food. The begging call is insistent and difficult to ignore. It is an effective albeit annoying strategy seagulls have developed to elicit food from humans.
Territorial Squawks
Squawking also helps seagulls establish and defend territories. During nesting season, mated pairs of seagulls stake out and defend areas for building their nests. They use aggressive squawking noises to ward off intruders and rivals.
These territorial squawks serve as a warning to encroaching gulls that the area is claimed. The calls also help strengthen the bond between the mated pair. Seagulls are highly territorial and this type of vocalization helps them protect their nesting areas.
Social Communication Squawks
Seagulls also use various chirping and squawking noises for social communication. Softer chirps and short vocalizations help maintain contact between parents and chicks once the babies have left the nest. Seagulls also chirp and squawk among themselves when feeding or traveling in flocks.
These sounds help coordinate the flock and signal when it is time to take flight or change activities. The flock uses squawks to decide on directions during flight and food sources during foraging. These vocalizations are key to community cohesiveness in groups of gulls.
Mating Ritual Squawks
One unique seagull squawking behavior occurs during mating rituals. When seagulls are choosing or courting mates, pairs will engage in a physical and vocal display called the choke. In this ritual, the two birds stand breast to breast, point their beaks skyward, and emit a loud, long call.
Sometimes the birds bob their heads or flap their wings during this display. The matching squawks help pair bond the birds while also demonstrating health and fitness to potential mates.
Weather-Related Squawks
Seagulls also use squawking to communicate in response to weather conditions. Seagulls make particularly noisy vocalizations during strong winds, rain, or storms. These weather-related calls serve purposes like mustering the flock or synchronizing flight patterns.
The gulls may also be signaling distress in response to challenging weather that makes flying and foraging difficult. Their reactive squawking helps gather the flock for safety during storms or high winds.
Squawking as Expression
While most seagull squawks serve some communicative function, these vocalizations also seem to express excitement or alarm. Seagulls make loud calls when pursuing food or arguing over choice bits of prey. They also shriek whenstartled or defending their space.
These emotional squawks are tied to arousal states induced by food, territorial disputes, or perceived threats. The gulls vocalize loudly in these situations out of a shared sense of passion, alarm, or aggression.
Conclusion
Seagulls have a wide vocabulary of squawks, calls, and vocalizations for nearly every occasion. Their squawking helps them communicate with the flock, defend territories, raise young, interact socially, respond to weather, and express internal states. Next time you hear a seagull squawking, listen closely – they are doing a whole lot of communicating!
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are seagulls so loud and noisy?
Seagulls are very loud and noisy birds for several reasons:
- Their loud calls help them communicate over long distances
- Squawking helps maintain contact in large flocks of gulls
- Alarm calls warn other gulls of potential threats
- Begging calls loudly signal hunger to parent birds
- Territorial calls help defend nesting areas
- Excited vocalizations express emotion during mating, feeding, etc.
Being loud and noisy is an effective survival strategy for seagulls as they compete for food, mates, and breeding territories in crowded coastal areas.
What is the most common seagull squawk sound?
The most common and familiar seagull squawk is probably the loud, wavering wail or cry. This type of vocalization serves as an alarm call to other gulls, warning them of potential danger or threats. Seagulls make this urgent, repetitive wailing sound when feeling threatened by predators, humans encroaching on their territory, or other disturbances.
Why do seagulls make choking or rattling sounds?
Seagulls sometimes make choking, rattling, or gagging sounds as part of mating rituals or territorial displays. Adult gulls engaging in the “choke” behavior will stand face-to-face, point their beaks upwards, and emit a loud, rhythmic gagging or rattling sound. This serves to strengthen pair bonding and signal fitness to potential mates while also defending nesting areas.
Do seagull squawks have different meanings?
Yes, seagull squawks definitely have different and specific meanings. Though they may sound the same to our ears, seagulls have an extensive range of vocalizations for various purposes:
- Short repetitive squawks signal location and attract mates
- Long wailing indicates alarm
- Harsh begging calls signal hunger
- Chirps communicate between mates/chicks
- Aggressive squawking defends territories
Seagulls even make special ritual mating display calls. The diverse squawks help seagulls coordinate activities, raise young, and interact socially.
How can you deter seagulls from squawking loudly?
Here are some tips to deter loud, nuisance seagull squawking:
- Don’t feed gulls, as this encourages begging
- Discourage nesting by removing ledges or nets where possible
- Use decoys or audio deterrents to scare off territorial gulls
- Avoid approaching or disturbing nests during breeding season
- Protect food from gulls quickly cleaning up leftovers
Preventing access to food and nesting sites can help, but gulls are resourceful, so deterrents may need to be continually applied.
References
- https://www.audubon.org/news/why-are-seagulls-so-noisy-and-rambunctious
- https://www.birdspot.co.uk/bird-brain/why-seagulls-scream-what-they-are-saying
- https://www.thespruce.com/how-and-why-seagulls-communicate-385374
- https://www.nps.gov/pais/learn/nature/seagull-sounds.htm
- https://abcbirds.org/program/cats-indoors/threats-birds/gulls/
