Seagulls are seabirds that are known for their loud, distinctive calls. Their cries of “krraa krraa” or “keeah keeah” are familiar sounds near oceans, beaches, harbors, and dumps around the world. But why do seagulls make these raucous noises? What are they trying to communicate?
Seagull Vocalizations
Seagulls have a wide repertoire of vocalizations that they use to communicate different messages. Their most well-known call is probably their loud, two-note call that sounds like “krraa krraa.” This is an advertising call that seagulls use to proclaim ownership of a nesting territory and to attract a mate. It advertises the presence of the seagull and says “this spot is mine!” Other seagulls will hear this territorial claim and keep their distance.
Seagulls also have alarm calls that alert others to danger. This call often sounds like a rapid series of high-pitched notes. Parent gulls use alarm calls to warn their chicks of impending danger and signal them to hide. Seagulls also have special calls to beg for food from their parents or mates and contact calls to locate each other within a colony.
Why Do Seagulls Sing?
So in summary, the main reasons seagulls “sing” are:
- To claim nesting territory
- To attract a mate
- To warn others of danger
- To beg for food
- To locate each other
Their vocalizations allow seagulls to communicate and coordinate essential behaviors like breeding, feeding, and responding to predators. The calls are loud so they can be heard at a distance by other gulls. The next time you hear the familiar “krraa krraa” of a seagull, you’ll know it’s not really singing, but communicating in the language of gulls!
Seagull Species and Their Calls
There are over 50 species of seagulls worldwide. Here are some of the most common species and details about their distinctive calls:
Herring Gull
- Scientific name: Larus argentatus
- Call is a loud “kraaa-ga”
- Found across North America, Europe, and Asia
The herring gull has a deep, laughing call that sounds like “kraaa-ga.” Their loud, raucous calls are one of the quintessential sounds of the shoreline. Herring gulls are opportunistic feeders and their calls often signify that food is around.
Ring-Billed Gull
- Scientific name: Larus delawarensis
- Call is a harsh “keeah” or “keah”
- Found across North America
The ring-billed gull makes a loud, nasal call that sounds like “keeah.” They make this far-carrying call while in flight or when resting on the ground. It is used to communicate with other gulls and claim territory.
Western Gull
- Scientific name: Larus occidentalis
- Call is a squealing “kleeah”
- Found on the west coast of North America
The western gull’s call is higher-pitched than other seagull species. Their common call sounds like a loud, squealing “kleeah.” Western gulls are very territorial and use this call to defend nesting areas.
Great Black-Backed Gull
- Scientific name: Larus marinus
- Call is a deep “ha-ha-ha”
- Found across North America, Europe, and Asia
The great black-backed gull is the largest gull species and it has a deep, hearty laugh that sounds like “ha-ha-ha.” Its large size and loud call makes it one of the most dominant gull species.
Laughing Gull
- Scientific name: Leucophaeus atricilla
- Call is a laughing “ha-ha-ha” or “keh-keh-keh”
- Found along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of North America
True to its name, the laughing gull really does seem to have a laughing call! Its call sounds like a series of “ha-ha-ha” or “keh-keh-keh” notes. The laughing gull gets its name from its raucous call that sounds like human laughter.
Seagull Diet and Feeding
Seagulls are omnivores and opportunistic feeders. Their diet depends on the food available in their habitat. Here is a table summarizing the common foods eaten by seagulls:
| Food Source | Examples |
|---|---|
| Invertebrates | Crabs, mollusks, marine worms, shrimp |
| Fish | Discarded catches, dead fish, fish eggs |
| Garbage/Refuse | Discarded human food, chip bags, burger wrappers |
| Marine Plants | Algae, eelgrass, sea lettuce |
| Terrestrial Plants | Berries, seeds, grass |
| Eggs and Chicks | Seagull eggs and chicks |
As shown in the table, seagulls have a diverse diet. They forage for invertebrates like crabs, worms, and mollusks along the shore and in shallow waters. They also readily eat discarded human food and garbage. Plant material and eggs supplement their diet.
Seagulls are infamous for swooping down and stealing food from people on beaches and boardwalks. They even hover above picnickers waiting for an opportunity to grab unattended food. Seagulls have also been known to swallow whole hot dogs and even baby chickens at poultry farms.
Some key facts about seagulls’ feeding behaviors include:
- They swallow most food whole
- Sometimes drop hard-shelled prey from heights to crack open shells
- Regurgitate indigestible material like shell fragments as pellets
- Steal food opportunistically from humans and other birds
- Scavenge dead fish, garbage, and human refuse
- Forage at landfills and wastewater outlets
Their varied diet and opportunistic feeding habits help seagulls thrive in urbanized coastal habitats.
Seagull Reproduction and Nesting
Seagulls build scrape nests on the ground to lay and incubate their speckled eggs. Here are some key facts about seagull nesting and reproduction:
- Breeding season is generally April – July
- Nest is a scrape or depression dug in the ground
- Clutch size is usually 2 – 4 eggs
- Eggs are speckled olive, brown, black, or green
- Both parents incubate eggs for 22 – 28 days
- Chicks fledge at 4 – 6 weeks old
- Seagulls are monogamous and mate for life
- Pairs return to the same nest site each year
Seagulls build their nest scrapes on the ground as they do not transport nesting material like many other birds. Nest sites include beaches, fields, rooftops, and gravel. Both the male and female seagull incubate the eggs by shuffling them underneath their bodies. The eggs hatch asynchronously over several days.
The chicks are semiprecocial at hatching and are soon able to walk, run, and feed themselves. The parents protect and feed the chicks until they fledge. Young gulls start flying at 4-6 weeks old. Seagulls typically live 10-15 years but the oldest known herring gull was over 32 years old.
Seagull Nesting Colonies
Seagulls often nest in large colonies with thousands of breeding pairs. Some of the largest seagull colonies include:
- Bass Rock, Scotland – 150,000 pairs of northern gannets and northern gulls
- Bonaventure Island, Canada – Over 100,000 northern gannets and gulls
- Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge, Massachusetts – 50,000 pairs of herring gulls
- Shiant Isles, Scotland – 37,000 pairs of herring gulls
These massive nesting colonies form where there are predator-free islands with an abundance of food. The crowded colonies lead to intense competition for the best nest sites. Seagulls in these groups engage in complex social interactions with specialized calls, displays, and mating rituals.
Seagull Migration Patterns
Some seagull species migrate long distances, while others stay in the same region year-round. Here are the migration patterns of some common seagull species:
Herring Gull
- Northern populations migrate south for winter
- Can migrate up to 2,100 miles between breeding and wintering grounds
- Migrate south along Atlantic and Pacific coasts
Ring-Billed Gull
- Many populations migrate south in winter, some remain year-round
- Migrate south along major rivers and Atlantic coast
- Winter range extends across southeastern USA and along Mexican coast
California Gull
- Mostly year-round residents, some southern movement in winter
- Disperse more widely across western North America in winter
Great Black-Backed Gull
- Northern populations migrate south in winter
- Migrate along Atlantic coast and offshore
- Winter from New England to Gulf of Mexico
The urge to migrate seems strongest in younger gulls. Adult gulls that have established feeding and nesting territories are more likely to remain year-round residents. Weather and food availability also influence their movement patterns.
Tracking studies show that migrating seagulls fly mainly during the day and make frequent stops to rest and feed. Their migration routes generally follow coastlines and large lakes that provide abundant food.
Seagull Habitats
Seagulls are highly adaptable birds that live along coastlines worldwide. Here are some of their key habitats:
Beaches and Shorelines
Seagulls forage in the intertidal zone and on sandy beaches searching for marine invertebrates, dead animals, and scraps washed in by the waves. Beaches provide open nesting areas away from predators.
Islands and Isolated Colonies
Offshore islands provide ideal protected breeding sites away from mainland predators like foxes, raccoons, and owls. Huge colonies form on remote islands.
Coastal Cliffs
Steep, rocky cliffs along shorelines are favored nesting spots as they limit access to predators. Seagulls nest on precarious ledges.
Harbors and Marinas
Seagulls flock to busy fishing harbors and marinas where fishermen gut their catches. The birds scavenge for scraps and discarded bycatch.
Wetlands and Mudflats
Coastal wetlands provide rich feeding areas where seagulls eat crabs, shellfish, marine worms, and other invertebrates.
Garbage Dumps and Landfills
Seagulls are highly attracted to landfills and garbage dumps where food waste is abundant. They’ve become habituated to human food scraps.
Urban Centers
Many seagulls now live year-round in coastal cities where they nest on rooftops and feed in parks, streets, and parking lots.
Seagulls thrive around human fishing and garbage waste. As they’ve adapted to urban environments, inland gull populations are growing too.
Seagull Conservation Status
Most seagull species have thriving, widespread populations. However, a few localized populations are declining or endangered:
| Species | Conservation Status |
|---|---|
| California Gull | Least Concern |
| Herring Gull | Least Concern |
| Ring-Billed Gull | Least Concern |
| Great Black-backed Gull | Least Concern |
| Heermann’s Gull | Near Threatened |
| Audouin’s Gull | Near Threatened |
Overall seagull populations remain widespread and robust. But a few localized populations of species like Heermann’s gull and Audouin’s gull are declining due to habitat loss, human disturbance, and predation. Continued monitoring is needed to ensure these specialized populations remain stable.
Major threats to seagulls include:
- Disturbance of nesting colonies
- Pollution and ingestion of plastics
- Coastal development and habitat loss
- Human exploitation for food, bait, and feathers
- Climate change impacts on food chains
Conservation initiatives that protect seabird nesting sites and promote sustainable fishing practices help maintain healthy seagull populations.
Seagulls in Folklore and Culture
Seagulls have made their way into human culture in many ways:
- Believed to house the souls of dead sailors in maritime folklore
- Symbol of sailors missing the ocean in Greek literature
- Symbol of freedom and sea voyages in literature
- Johnathan Livingston Seagull book promoted seagulls as emblems of freedom and nonconformity
- Considered a nuisance species by many coastal residents
- Depicted humorously in cartoons stealing food and making noise
- Subject of poetry focusing on their graceful flight
- Inspiration for classical music compositions evoking the sea
Seagulls are embedded in many cultural representations of the sea worldwide. They are admired by some for their adventurous lifestyle but considered pests by others for their food-stealing habits. These common seabirds continue to capture public imagination.
Conclusion
Seagulls have distinct appearances, calls, and behaviors that reflect their marine lifestyle. While they may seem common, these ubiquitous seabirds are highly adapted for surviving on coastlines worldwide. Their cries still evoke images of windswept beaches and crashing waves. Seagulls will continue to thrive alongside humans as long as we maintain the health of our oceans and beaches.
