Common Gull Bird Facts (Larus canus)

Visual Identification

Appearance

The Common Gull has a white head and underparts, with a pale grey back and wings. Its wingtips are distinctively black, creating a striking contrast. The bird's yellow bill often features a dark ring near the tip, while its legs can range from greenish to yellow.

Both sexes share similar plumage, although males are slightly larger than females. The iris is dark with a red orbital ring which is not apparent in winter plumage.

In winter, adults develop faint grey streaking on their heads. Juveniles have brown markings on their wings and backs and gradually moult into adult plumage over three years.

Size

Length

40cm to 46cm

Wingspan

110cm to 130cm

Weight

290g to 480g

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

White Grey

Secondary Colour

Black

Beak Colour

Yellow

Leg Colour

Green Yellow

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Common Gull is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Common Gull is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Common Gull can be found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Common Gull can be found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Common Gull can be found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Common Gull is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Common Gull is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Common Gull is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Common Gull is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Common Gull is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Common Gull is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Common Gull is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Common Gulls inhabit many coastal and inland habitats, including beaches, estuaries, lakes, and urban areas. They breed across northern Europe and Asia, with some populations in North America.

During winter, many birds migrate south, with significant numbers found in the UK, coastal areas of continental Europe, and parts of the United States. They're particularly common along the coasts of Scotland and eastern England year-round.

Elevation Range

Sea level to 1,400 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Subarctic

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Common Gull. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons

Resident

Breeding

Non-breeding

Vagrant

Distribution by Region

Species that can be found in the area throughout the year

Algeria Austria Azerbaijan Belarus Belgium Canada Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Faroe Islands Finland France Germany Hungary Iceland Ireland Israel Japan Latvia Lebanon Lithuania Mexico Moldova Mongolia Netherlands North Korea Norway Poland Romania Russia Slovakia South Korea Sweden Switzerland Tajikistan The United Kingdom Tunisia Ukraine United States of America Vietnam

Species that are present in the area during their breeding season

Kazakhstan Russia Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands

Species that are present in the area outside their breeding season

Albania Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria China Croatia Cyprus Egypt Georgia Gibraltar Greece Iran Iraq Italy Jordan Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Macedonia Montenegro Morocco Palestine Portugal Serbia Slovenia Spain Syria Turkey

Species that appear infrequently (rare) and unpredictably outside their normal range

Afghanistan Bahrain Bhutan Gambia Greenland Hong Kong India Libya Liechtenstein Malta Mauritania Myanmar Nepal Oman Pakistan Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saudi Arabia Senegal Taiwan United Arab Emirates

Behaviour and Ecology

Bird Attributes

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Bird Attributes Explained

Our bird attributes system rates various aspects of a bird's capabilities on a scale of 0-100, based on data from field observations, scientific studies, and expert knowledge.

Attribute Categories:

Agility: Manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
Strength: Physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
Adaptability: Ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
Aggressiveness: Territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
Endurance: Stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

Understanding the Ratings:

0-20: Very Low
21-40: Low
41-60: Average
61-80: High
81-100: Very High

Remember, these attributes are relative to other bird species and don't necessarily indicate superiority.

Hover over the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Tap the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Agility 85

Agility

Reflects the bird's manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.

The Common Gull demonstrates high agility through its adept soaring and gliding abilities, efficiently using air currents. Their skill in navigating coastal winds and performing precise movements during fishing and foraging activities supports this rating.

Strength 60

Strength

Indicates the bird's physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.

While not exceptionally strong for their size, Common Gulls possess moderate strength. They can carry small prey items and navigate in challenging weather conditions, but their medium size limits their overall strength compared to larger gull species.

Adaptability 90

Adaptability

Represents the bird's ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.

Common Gulls exhibit remarkable adaptability, thriving in diverse habitats from coastal areas to urban environments. Their opportunistic feeding behaviour, ability to consume both fresh and salt water, and problem-solving skills (such as using bread as bait) demonstrate high adaptability.

Aggressiveness 65

Aggressiveness

Measures the bird's territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.

Common Gulls show moderate aggressiveness, particularly during breeding seasons when defending nests and chicks. However, they are generally less aggressive than larger gull species, often seen in social flocks outside of breeding periods.

Endurance 75

Endurance

Reflects the bird's stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

These gulls display good endurance, evidenced by their partial migratory behaviour and ability to forage over large areas. Their capacity to thrive in various climates and altitudes (from sea level to 1000 metres) suggests solid endurance, though not as extreme as some long-distance migratory birds.

Diet

Common Gulls are opportunistic feeders with a varied diet. They consume fish, marine invertebrates, molluscs, insects, earthworms, and small mammals.

These adaptable birds also scavenge human food waste in urban areas and follow ploughs in agricultural fields to catch disturbed invertebrates.

Behaviour

Common Gulls are highly social and often seen in large flocks during non-breeding seasons. They're highly efficient at soaring and gliding and use air currents efficiently.

These gulls are known for their 'foot-paddling' behaviour, in which they rapidly stamp their feet on the ground to bring worms to the surface.

Vocalisation

The Common Gull's call is a distinctive high-pitched 'kyow' or 'kee-aw', often repeated in a series.

During the breeding season, they produce various softer mewing sounds, which likely contributed to their alternative name, the Mew Gull. Their alarm call is a sharp, staccato 'kek-kek-kek'.

Nesting & Breeding

Common Gulls typically form breeding pairs in late winter or early spring. They often return to the same nesting sites year after year, showing strong site fidelity.

Although nests are usually built on the ground close to water, common gulls will also nest in trees and are the only white-headed gulls to do so.

Nests are built on the ground or occasionally on buildings, consisting of a shallow scrape lined with vegetation. Females usually lay 2-3 olive-brown eggs with dark speckles.

Both parents incubate the eggs for about 24-26 days. The chicks fledge after 4-5 weeks but may continue to be fed by their parents for several more weeks.

Conservation and Status

Global Conservation Status

Least Concern ^[1]

While currently listed as Least Concern, Common Gulls face threats from habitat loss, pollution, and climate change.

Coastal development and disturbance at breeding sites are particular concerns. Conservation efforts focus on protecting nesting areas and reducing marine pollution.

Population Data

Global Population Estimate

2,500,000 - 3,700,000 mature individuals ^[2]

Global Population Trend

Trend data may be uncertain or fluctuating

Birdwatching Tips

Look for Common Gulls in coastal areas, estuaries, and large inland water bodies.
Observe their distinctive pale grey back, lighter than many other gull species.
Listen for their high-pitched 'kyow' call, which can help distinguish them from similar gulls.
In the UK, watch for them year-round in coastal areas and inland during winter.
In appearance, they are easy to confuse with a Herring Gull, although the latter is larger and much heavier.

Additional Information

Quick Facts

Other names:

Mew Gull

Family:

Laridae

Average Lifespan

10 years

Max Lifespan

33.7 years ^[3]

Predators

Main predators include large raptors such as Great Black-backed Gulls, Peregrine Falcons, and White-tailed Eagles. Ground predators like foxes and rats may prey on eggs and chicks.

Did You Know?

Common Gulls can drink fresh and saltwater thanks to special glands that remove excess salt.
They have been observed using bread as bait to catch fish, showing problem-solving abilities.
Despite their name, they're not always the most common gull species in many areas.

References

1
website: BirdLife International. 2019. Larus canus (amended version of 2018 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T22694308A155576460.
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2
report, 2015: Wetlands International
3
website, 2010: Fransson et al., EURING list of longevity records for European birds
View source