THE WORLD BIRDS - An Online Bird Book
gullS and Allies
Gulls, terns, skimmers, skuas, puffins, and their allies belong to the order
Charadriiformes. Charadriiformes is a diverse order and contains many other families. Most live near water and eat invertebrates or other small animals, however, some are pelagic (seabirds), some occupy deserts and a few are found in thick forest.
Gulls
Order Charadriiformes Family Laridae
Gulls are most closely related to the terns, noddies, and skimmers. All of this group, except the terns, probably have ultraviolet vision as they have the SWS1 opsin gene. Gulls are typically medium to large birds, usually grey or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They typically have
harsh wailing or squawking calls, stout, longish bills, and webbed feet. gull species range in size from 29 to 76 cm. Most gulls, particularly
Larus species, are ground nesting carnivores, which will take live food or scavenge opportunistically. Live food often includes crabs and small fish. gulls have unhinging jaws which allow them to consume large prey. Apart from the kittiwakes, gulls are typically coastal or inland species, rarely venturing far out to sea. large species take up to four years to attain full adult plumage, but two years is typical for small gulls. gulls are resourceful, inquisitive and intelligent birds, demonstrating complex methods of communication and a highly developed social structure.
![](../Daniels2LG/gull, ringed-bill 11-02c OIB.jpg)
Ring-billed gull Image by Dick Daniels
Genus Chroicocephalus
These small to medium-sized gulls are omnivores eating insects, worms, fish,shrimp, mollusks, and garbage. They take 2 years to mature.
Gull,_Andean Chroicocephalus serranus
Image by:
1, 2) Charlie Westerinen - Lima Peru
3, 5, 6) Dick Daniels - Sacred Valley, Peru 4)
Nick Athanas - Peru
1 - 3) Nonbreeding 4 - 6 breeding.
![](../People/Westerinen/WesterinenSM/Gull,_Andean.jpg)
![](../People/Westerinen/WesterinenSM/Gull,_Andean2.jpg)
![](../People/AthanasSM/Gull,_Andean_Nick_Athanas_eq.jpg)
![](../Daniels/PeruSM/Gull,_Andean_SacredValley5.jpg)
Gull,_Black-billed Chroicocephalus bulleri
Image by:
1, 2, 3, 4) Dick Daniels - New Zealand
1) Juvenile (identified by Charlie Westerinen)
![](../Daniels/Australasia/PhotosSmall/Gull, Black-billed juvenile NZ.jpg)
![](../Daniels/Australasia/PhotosSmall/gull, black-billed NZ 7.jpg)
![](../Daniels/Australasia/PhotosSmall/gull, black-billed NZ 8.jpg)
Gull,_Bonaparte's Chroicocephalus philadelphia
Image by:
1, 2, 3) Dick Daniels - North Carolina
4) Dick - Mississippi 5)
Jamie Chavez - California 6)
Ken Schneider - Alaska
1 - 4) Nonbreeding 5, 6) Breeding
s
![](../Daniels1SM/gull, bonapartes 02-14.jpg)
![](../Daniels1SM/gull, bonapartes 02-17.jpg)
![](../Daniels2SM/Gull,_Bonaparte's_2012f5.jpg)
![](../Daniels2SM/Gull, Bonaparte's_Biloxi3.jpg)
![](../People/ChavezJamieSM/Gull, Bonaparte's_JamieChavez.jpg)
Gull,_Black-headed Chroicocephalus ridibundus Found: North America (northeastern),
Europe
Image by: 1)
Asten - London 2)
Ómar Runólfsson - Iceland
3) Dick Daniels - North Carolina
4) Dick - Scotland 5)
Maarten Van Kleinwee - Netherlands 6)
Andy_Li
1, 2, 3) Nonbreeding 4 - 6) Breeding
![](../Images3SM/Gull,_Black-headed_Asten.jpg)
![](../People/RunolfssonSM/Gull,_Black-headed_OmarRunolfsson.jpg)
![](../Daniels1SM/gull, black-headed 02-09 a.jpg)
![](../Daniels/GreatBritain/PhotosSmall/gull, black-headed 06-04e SCOT.jpg)
![](../Images3SM/Gull,_Black-headed_MaartenVanKleinwee.jpg)
Gull,_Brown-headed Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus
Image by: 1)
Ariful Haque Bhuiyan - Bangladesh 2)
Gaurika Wijeratne 3)
Mvshreeram - India 4)
David Cook - Sri Lanka
10 Juvenile 2) Nonbreeding 3, 4) Breeding
![](../Images3SM/Gull,_Brown-headed_ArifulHaqueBhuiyan.jpg)
![](../Images3SM/Gull,_Brown-headed_GaurikaWijeratne.jpg)
![](../Images6SM/Gull,_Brown-headed_Mvshreeram.jpg)
Gull,_Brown-hooded Chroicocephalus maculipennis Found:
South America
Image by:
1, 4) Cláudio Timm - Brazil 2)
payayita - Argentina 3)
Nick Athanas - Argentina
1) Nonbreed 2 - 4) Breeding
![](../People/TimmClaudioSM/Gull,_Brown-hooded_ClaudioTimm.jpg)
![](../Images5SM/Gull,_Brown-hooded_payayita.jpg)
![](../People/AthanasSM/Gull,_Brown-hooded_Nick_Athanas_eq.jpg)
Gull,_Grey-hooded Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus
Image by: 1)
Johann Snyman - South Africa 2)
John B - New York (very infrequent in USA) 3)
Nik_Borrow - Uganda 4)
Gabriel
Buissart 5)
Lip Key - South Africa 6)
Cláudio Timm - Brazil
1, 2) Nonbreeding
![](../Images3SM/Gull,_Gray-hooded_JohannSnyman.jpg)
![](../Images3SM/Gull,_Gray-hooded_JohnB.jpg)
![](../People/BorrowNikSM/Gull,_Gray-hooded_Nik_Borrow.jpg)
![](../Images2SM/Gull, Grey-headed GabrielBuissart.jpg)
![](../People/YapSM/Gull,_Gray-hooded_LipKeeYap.jpg)
Gull,_Hartlaub's Chroicocephalus hartlaubii
Image by:
1,
2, 3) Dick- Cape Town, South Africa 4)
Dick - Hout, South Africa
![](../Daniels/SouthAfrica/PhotosSmall/Gull, Hartlaub's CapeTown2.jpg)
![](../Daniels/SouthAfrica/PhotosSmall/Gull, Hartlaub's NearCapeTown.jpg)
![](../Daniels/SouthAfrica/PhotosSmall/Gull, Hartlaub's CapeTown6.jpg)
Gull,_Red-billed Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae scopulinus
Image by:
1, 2,
3, 4) Tony
Wills in Petone, Wellington,
![](../Images2SM/Gull, Red-billed Tony Wills2h.jpg)
![](../Images2SM/Gull, Red-billed Tony Wills2.jpg)
![](../Images2SM/Gull, Red-billed Tony Wills3.jpg)
Gull,_Silver Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae
Image by:
1) Charlie Westerinen - Australia 2) Dick Daniels - Australia 3)
JJ Harrison - Tasmania 4)
Nik_Borrow
1) Juvenile and adult
![](../People/Westerinen/WesterinenSM/Gull,_Silver_CharlieWesterinen.jpg)
![](../Daniels/Australasia/PhotosSmall/gull, silver f.jpg)
![](../People/HarrisonJJ_SM/Gull,_SIlver_JJ_Harrison.jpg)
Gull,_Slender-billed Chroicocephalus genei
Image by:
1, 4) Lip Kee - Egypt 2)
Gabriel Buissart 3)
Nik_Borrow - Senegal
![](../People/YapSM/Gull,_Slender-billed_LipKee.jpg)
![](../Images6SM/Gull, Slender-billed_GabrielBuissart.jpg)
![](../People/BorrowNikSM/Gull,_Slender-billed_Nik_Borrow.jpg)
Genus Creagrus- 1 species
Gull,_Swallow-tailed Creagrus furcatus
Image by: 1)
David Cook - Galapagos 2) Nick Athanas
3,4
) Benjamint444
1, 2) Juvenile
![](../People/CookDavidSM/Gull,_Swallow-tailed_DavidCook.jpg)
![](../People/AthanasSM/Gull,_Swallow-tailed_Nick_Athanas_eq2.jpg)
![](../People/Benjamint444SM/Gull,_Swallow-tailed_Benjamint444.jpg)
Genus Hydrocoloeus - 1 species
Gull,_Little Hydrocoloeus minutus
Image by: 1)
Kallerna - Finland
2) Ómar Runólfsson - Iceland 3)
Andrej_Chudy 4)
Ekaterina Chernetsova
1) Nonbreding 3, 4) Breeding
![](../People/YeliseevSM/Gull,_Little_SergeyYeliseev.jpg)
![](../Images1SM/Gull,_Little_Runolfsson2.jpg)
![](../IMAGE11SM/Gull,_Little_Andrej_Chudy.jpg)
Genus Ichthyaetus
Gull,_Audouin's Ichthyaetus audouinii
Image by:
1, 2) Nik_Borrow - Spain 3)
Andreas Butz 4) Sergey Yeliseev - Spain
![](../People/BorrowNikSM/Gull,_Audouin's_Nik_Borrow.jpg)
![](../People/BorrowNikSM/Gull,_Audouin's_Nik_Borrow2.jpg)
![](../Images3SM/Gull,_Audouins_AndreasButz.jpg)
Gull,_Mediterranean Ichthyaetus melanocephalus Found: Europe, Asia, Africa
Image by: 1)
Charlie Westerinen - Hungary 2)
Agustin_Povedano 3) Stefan_Berndtsson 4)
Martin Olsson - Sweden
1) Juvenile 2) Nonbreeding 3, 4) Breeding
![](../People/Westerinen/WesterinenSM/Gull,_Mediterranean_CharlieWesterinen.jpg)
![](../IMAGE11SM/Gull,_Mediterranean_Agustin_Povedano.jpg)
![](../IMAGE11SM/Gull,_Mediterranean_Stefan_Berndtsson.jpg)
Gull,_Pallas's Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus
Image by: 1) Imran_Shah - Pakistan
2, 3) Balaji Venkatesh Sivaramakrishnan 4)
Ron Knight
1) Nonbreeding
![](../People/Shah_SM/Gull,_Pallas's_Imran_Shah.jpg)
![](../Images3SM/Gull,_Pallas's_BalajiVenkateshSivaramakrishnan2.jpg)
![](../Images3SM/Gull,_Pallas's_BalajiVenkateshSivaramakrishnan.jpg)
Gull,_Relict Ichthyaetus relictus
Image by: 1)
Tom_Beeke - China 2)
LonelyShrimp - China
1) Nonbreeding 2) Breeding
![](../ImageALLRIGHTS5/Gull,_Relict_Tom_Beeke.jpg)
Gull,_Sooty Ichthyaetus hemprichii
Iage by: 1) Baresi_franco
2, 3) S Jahanmi 4)
Moayed Bahajjaj - Oman
![](../IMAGE11SM/Gull,_Sooty_Baresi_franco.jpg)
![](../Images3SM/Gull,_sooty_Sjahanmi2.jpg)
![](../Images3SM/Gull,_sooty_Sjahanmi.jpg)
Gull,_White-eyed Ichthyaetus leucophthalmus
Image by: 1)
Sergey Yeliseev - Egypt
1, 2, 3) Marcel Holyoak - Israel
2, 3, 4) Breeding
![](../People/YeliseevSM/Gull,_White-eyed_SergeyYeliseev.jpg)
![](../People/HolyoakSM/Gull,_White-eyed_MarcelHolyoak.jpg)
![](../People/HolyoakSM/Gull,_White-eyed_MarcelHolyoak2.jpg)
Genus Larus
The
Larus gulls are in general medium to large birds, typically grey or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have stout, longish bills and webbed feet.
Gull,_Armenian Larus armenicus Found: Europe, Asia, Africa
Image by:
1, 2, 3, 4) Marcel Holyoak - Israel
![](../People/HolyoakSM/Gull,_Armenian_MarcelHolyoak.jpg)
![](../People/HolyoakSM/Gull,_Armenian_MarcelHolyoak2.jpg)
![](../People/HolyoakSM/Gull,_Armenian_MarcelHolyoak3.jpg)
Gull,_Belcher's also
Band-tailed gull Larus belcheri Found: South America
Image by:
1, 3) Charlie Westerinen - Lima, Peru 2, 4)
Nick Athanas - Peru 5)
Alastair Rae 6)
Dick Daniels - Lima
1, 2) Juvenile 3, 4) Nonbreeding 5, 6) Breeding
![](../People/Westerinen/WesterinenSM/Gull, Belcher's_CharlieWesterinen.jpg)
![](../People/AthanasSM/Gull,_Belcher's_juvenile_Nick_Athanas_eq.jpg)
![](../People/Westerinen/WesterinenSM/Gull,_Belchers_CharlieWesterinen.jpg)
![](../People/AthanasSM/Gull,_Belcher's_Nick_Athanas_eq.jpg)
![](../People/RaeAlastairSM/Gull, Belcher's Alastair Rae.jpg)
Gull,_Black-tailed Larus crassirostris Found: North America (rare), east Asia
Image by: 1)
Andy Li 2)
Kevin Lin - Taiwan 3)
Osa Mu - Japan 4)
Angie - Japan 5)
Alistair Rae - Japan 6)
Shizhao - Bejing Zoo 7)
Bamse on ferry across Tokyo bay
1, 2) Juvenile
![](../People/LiAndySM/Gull,_Black-tailed_AndyLi.jpg)
![](../Images3SM/Gull,_Black-tailed_KevinLin.jpg)
![](../Images2SM/Gull, Black-tailed Angie.jpg)
![](../People/RaeAlastairSM/Gull,_Black-tailed_AlastairRae.jpg)
![](../Images4SM/Gull,_Black-tailed_Shizhao.jpg)
Gull,_California Larus californicus Found: west North America
Image by: 1)
Laura Gooch - Washington
2, 4) Elaine R Wilson - Near Victoria, British Columbia 3)
Dick Daniels - California 5)
Len Blumin - California 6)
Maggie Smith 7)
Charlie Westerinen - Utah
1, 2) Juvenile 3, 4) Nonbreeding 5, 6, 7) Breeding
![](../People/GoochSM/Gull,_California_LauraGooch.jpg)
![](../People/Wilson/WilsonSm/Gull, California, juvenile Elaine_R_Wilson_4662.jpg)
![](../People/Wilson/WilsonSm/Gull, California Elaine_R_Wilson_4614.jpg)
![](../People/BluminSm/Gull,_California_Len_Blumin.jpg)
![](../People/SmithMaggieSM/Gull,_California_MaggieSmith.jpg)
Gull,_Cape Larus vetula Found: southern Africa
Image by: 1)
Lip Kee 2)
Dick Daniels - George, South Africa
3, 4) Dick - Hout, South Africa 5)
Dick - Plettenberg Bay, South Africa
1) Juvenile
![](../People/YapSM/Gull,_Cape_Lip_Kee.jpg)
![](../Daniels/SouthAfrica/PhotosSmall/Gull, Cape George, SA.jpg)
![](../Daniels/SouthAfrica/PhotosSmall/Gull, Cape Hout2.jpg)
![](../Daniels/SouthAfrica/PhotosSmall/Gull, Cape Hout1.jpg)
Gull,_Caspian Larus cachinnans Found: east Europe, west and central Asia
Image by: 1)
Marek Szczepanek 2)
Luciano 95 3)
Jan_Svetlik 4)
Nik_Borrow - England
5, 6) Maarten van Kleinwee
1, 2) Juvenile 3 - 6) Adult
![](../Images2SM/Gull, Caspian Marek Szczepanek2.jpg)
![](../IMAGE11SM/Gull,_Caspian_Luciano.jpg)
![](../People/SvetlikSM/Gull,_Caspian_Jan_Svetlik.jpg)
![](../People/BorrowNikSM/Gull,_Caspian_Nik_Borrow.jpg)
![](../Images3SM/Gull,_Caspian_MaartenVanKleinwee2.jpg)
Gull,_Glaucous Larus hyperboreus Found: North America, Europe, Asia
Image by: 1)
Ómar Runólfsson - Iceland 2) Nik_Borrow 3) Linda Tanner - California 4)
Len Blumin - California 5)
Agustin_Povedano - Spain
6)
Alastair Rae - Japan 7)
nebirdsplus - New Hampshire 8)
US Fish and Wildlife Service - Aleutian Islands 9)
Blake Maybank - California
1, 2) Juvenile, dark type 3, 4, 5) Juvenile
6) Adult, nonbreeding 7, 8, 9) Adult, breeding
![](../People/RunolfssonSM/Gull,_Glaucous_OmarRunolfsson.jpg)
![](../People/BorrowNikSM/Gull,_Glaucous_Nik_Borrow.jpg)
![](../People/TannerSM/Gull,_Glaucous_1stWinter_LindaTanner.jpg)
![](../People/BluminSm/Gull,_Glaucous_1stWinter_Len_Blumin.jpg)
![](../People/Povedano_SM/Gull,_Glaucous_Agustin_Povedano.jpg)
![](../People/RaeAlastairSM/Gull,_Glaucous_AlastairRae.jpg)
![](../People/NebirdsplusSM/Gull,_Glaucous_nebirdsplus.jpg)
![](../Images2SM/Gull, Glaucous US Fish and Wildlife Service.jpg)
Gull,_Glaucous-winged Larus glaucescens Found: North America (Pacific Coast)
Image by: 1)
Just Chaos 2, 3, 6) Dick Daniels - Seldovia, Alaska 4)
tgreyfox 5)
Dick Daniels - Seward, Alaska
1, 2, 3) Juvenile 4) 3rd winter 5. 6) Breeding
![](../Images3SM/Gull,_Glaucous-winged_1stWinter_Jean.jpg)
![](../Daniels/AlaskaSM/Gull,_Glaucous-winged_juvenile_Seldovia1.jpg)
![](../Images3SM/Gull,_Glaucous-winged_tgreyfox.jpg)
![](../Daniels/AlaskaSM/Gull, Glaucous-winged_Seward5b.jpg)
Gull,_Great Black-backed Larus marinus Found: east North America,
Europe, Asia
Image by:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11) Dick Daniels
1 - 5) Juvenile
10) Great Black-Backed gull is larger than Herring gull
11) Back: adult Herring gull and 2 adult Great Black Backs.
Middle: juvenile Lesser Black Backed and juvenile Great Black Backed.
Front: juvenile Herring gull.
![](../Daniels1SM/gull, great black-backed 03-20.jpg)
![](../Daniels2SM/Gull,_Great_Black-backed_juvenile_2012RWD.jpg)
![](../Daniels3SM/Gull,_Great_Black-backed_1st_year_Nantucket2.jpg)
![](../Daniels3SM/Gull,_Great_Black-backed_1st_year_Nantucket.jpg)
![](../Daniels1SM/gull, great black-backed, juvenile 09-16fb.jpg)
![](../Daniels2SM/Gull,_Great_Black-backed_AtlanticBeachNC.jpg)
![](../Daniels1SM/gull, great black-backed 09-22e2.jpg)
![](../Daniels1SM/Gull, Great Black-backed, Isles of Shoals NH.jpg)
![](../Daniels1SM/gull, great black-backed 09-08f CapeMay.jpg)
![](../Daniels1SM/gull, great black-backed and herring gull 11-10b.jpg)
Gull,_Heermann's Larus heermanni Found: North America and
Central America
Image by:
2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9. 10, 11) Dick Daniels - California
5, 12) Alan D Wilson - Huntington Beach, California 6)
Elaine R. Wilson - La Jolla, California
2, 3, 4) Juvenile 5, 6, 7) non breeding 8 - 11) breeding
![](../Images8SM/Gull,_Heermanns_Scops.jpg)
![](../Daniels3SM/Gull,_Heermanns_2015a.jpg)
![](../Daniels1SM/gull, heermanns, juvenile 10-15 CA.jpg)
![](../Daniels2SM/Gull, Heermann's8.jpg)
![](../People/Wilson/WilsonSm/Gull, Heermann's Alan_D_Wilson_7869.jpg)
![](../People/Wilson/WilsonSm/Gull, Heermann's Elaine_R_Wilson_3814.jpg)
![](../Daniels3SM/Gull,_Heermanns_2015b.jpg)
![](../Daniels2SM/Gull, Heermann's1.jpg)
![](../Daniels2SM/Gull, Heermann's2.jpg)
![](../Daniels2SM/Gull, Heermann's3.jpg)
![](../Daniels2SM/gull, heermann's 06-08-2009c CA.jpg)
Gull,_ Herring (American) Larus smithsonianus Found: North America,
Asia
Image by:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10) Dick Daniels - East Coast, United States
1 - 4) Juvenile 5) Juvenile, adult 6) nonbreeding 7, 8,,9, 10) Breeding
9) The concentric circles of waves were caused by the gull rapidly stomping its feet to help find prey. As it stomped its feet it also slowly rotated in a circle.
![](../Daniels1SM/Gull, Herring, Isles of Shoals NH.jpg)
![](../Daniels1SM/gull, herring 04-16.jpg)
![](../Daniels1SM/gull, herring 09-24 c.jpg)
![](../Daniels2SM/gull, herring 03-12.jpg)
![](../Daniels1SM/gull, herring 10-27 c.jpg)
![](../Daniels1SM/gull, herring 09-22 f.jpg)
![](../Daniels1SM/gull, herring 10-05 a.jpg)
![](../Daniels1SM/gull, herring 08-04a Acadia.jpg)
![](../Daniels3SM/Gull,_Herring2.jpg)
Gull,_ Herring (European) Larus argentatus Found: northern Europe (
Great Britain, the North Sea coast, and Scandinavia), Asia
Image by:
1, 3, 4) Dick Daniels - England
2) Charlie Westerinen - Lerwick , Shetland Island 5)
Jalil Arfaoui
1) Juvenile
![](../Daniels/GreatBritain/PhotosSmall/gull, herring 05-29a SCOT.jpg)
![](../People/Westerinen/WesterinenSM/Gull,_Herring_European_CharlieWesterinen.jpg)
![](../Daniels/GreatBritain/PhotosSmall/gull, herring 06-02a SCOT.jpg)
![](../Daniels/GreatBritain/PhotosSmall/gull, herring 05-25a ENG.jpg)
Gull,_Iceland Larus glaucoides Found: northeast North America to north Europe
Image by: 1)
Mpf -
Northumberland, UK 2)
Len Blumin - California 3)
Mdf - Toronto, CA 4)
Hillary Chambers 5)
Ómar Runólfsson - Iceland 7)
Seabamirum - New York
1 - 4) Juvenile 2)
L. g. kumlieni 5) Adult, nonbreeding 6) Adult, breeding
![](../People/MdfSM/Gull, Iceland Mpf.jpg)
![](../People/BluminSm/Gull,_Iceland_Len_Blumin3.jpg)
![](../Images3SM/Gull,_Iceland_HillaryChambers.jpg)
![](../People/RunolfssonSM/Gull,_Iceland_OmarRunolfsson .jpg)
Gull,_Kelp also
Southern Black-backed gull Larus dominicanus Found: North America (rare), South America
,
Africa, Australasia
Image by: 1)
dFaulder - Isla Magdalena, Chile
2, 4,
5) Dick Daniels -
New Zealand 3)
Dick - Chile
6, 9) Charlie Westrinen - Antarctic region
7) Cláudio Timm Beagle Channel, Argentina 8)
Dario
Sanches - Brazil
1) Adult, chick 2, 3) Juvenile 4 - 7) Adult 6, 9)
L. d. austrinusus
![](../People/FaulderSM/Gull,_Kelp2_dFaulder.jpg)
![](../Daniels/Australasia/PhotosSmall/gull, kelp juvenile NZ 2.jpg)
![](../Daniels/Australasia/PhotosSmall/gull, kelp aka southern black-backed NZ 2.jpg)
![](../Daniels/Australasia/PhotosSmall/gull, kelp aka southern black-backed NZ a1.jpg)
![](../People/Westerinen/WesterinenSM/Gull,_Kelp_CharlieWesterinen.jpg)
![](../People/TimmClaudioSM/Gull,_Kelp2_ClaudioTimm.jpg)
![](../People/SanchesDarioSM/Gull,_Kelp_DarioSanches.jpg)
![](../People/Westerinen/WesterinenSM/Gull,_Kelp_CharlieWesterinen2.jpg)
Gull,_Lesser Black-backed Larus fuscus Found: east North America, South America (rare), Europe, Asia, Africa
Image by:
1, 3) Dick Daniels - Nantucket, Massachusetts 2)
Mark Skevington - England 4)
Grantuking - Portugal
5,
7, 8, 9)
Dick - Scotland 6)
Maarten van Kleinwee - Netherlands
1, 2, 3) Juvenile 3) Lesser Black-backed gull is smaller than Herring gull 4) Adult, nonbreeding
5 - 9) Adult, breeding
![](../Daniels3SM/Gull,_Lesser_Black-backed_juvenile.jpg)
![](../Images3SM/Gull,_Lesser_Black-backed_MarkSkevington.jpg)
![](../Daniels3SM/Gull,_Lesser_Black-backed_and_Herring_Gull.jpg)
![](../Images3SM/Gull,_Lesser_Black-backed_Grantuking.jpg)
![](../Daniels/GreatBritain/PhotosSmall/gull, lesser black-backed 05-29b SCOT.jpg)
![](../Daniels/GreatBritain/PhotosSmall/gull, lesser black-backed 05-27a SCOT.jpg)
![](../Daniels/GreatBritain/PhotosSmall/gull, lesser black-backed 05-27d SCOT.jpg)
Gull,_Mew also
Common gull Larus canus Found: west North America, Europe, Asia, north Africa
Image by: 1)
Alan Wilson - Alaska 2)
Alan D. Wilson - British Columbia 3)
Dick Daniels - Half Moon Bay, California
4, 5, 6, 7) Dick - Homer, Alaska
8, 9, 10) Dick - Denali National Park, Alaska
1) Juvenile 2 - 5) Nonbreeding 6 - 10) Breeding
![](../People/Wilson/WilsonSm/Gull,_Mew_Alan_D_Wilson.jpg)
![](../People/Wilson/WilsonSm/Gull, Mew Alan_D_Wilson_2257.jpg)
![](../Images8SM/Gull,_Mew_HMB.jpg)
![](../Daniels/AlaskaSM/Gull,_Mew_Homer1a.jpg)
![](../Daniels/AlaskaSM/Gull,_Mew_Homer1c.jpg)
![](../Daniels/AlaskaSM/Gull,_Mew_Homer2.jpg)
![](../Daniels/AlaskaSM/Gull,_Mew_Homer3.jpg)
![](../Daniels/AlaskaSM/Gull,_Mew_Denali2.jpg)
![](../Daniels/AlaskaSM/Gull,_Mew_Denali3.jpg)
![](../Daniels/AlaskaSM/Gull,_Mew_Denali1.jpg)
Eurasian
Image:
1, 2, 3,
6) Dick - Scotland 3) Dick - Scotland
4)
Keith Marshall - England 5)
Sergey Yeliseev - Moscow region 7)
Charles Lam - Korea
1) Juvenile 2) Common gull in front, Herring gull in back 7) Identified by Ville Supponen
![](../Daniels/GreatBritain/PhotosSmall/gull, common 05-30b SCOT.jpg)
![](../Daniels/GreatBritain/PhotosSmall/gull, common and herring 06-02 SCOT.jpg)
![](../Daniels/GreatBritain/PhotosSmall/gull, common 06-02a SCOT.jpg)
![](../Images3SM/Gull,_Common_KeithMarshall.jpg)
![](../People/YeliseevSM/Gull,_Common_SergeyYeliseev.jpg)
![](../Daniels/GreatBritain/PhotosSmall/gull, common 06-01f SCOT.jpg)
Gull,_Olrog's Larus Atlanticus Found: Atlantic coast of South America
Image by:
1, 2, 3) Cláudio Timm - Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil 4)
Cristiano Crolle - Las Gaviotas, Argentina
1, 2) Juvenile
![](../People/TimmClaudioSM/Gull,_Olrog's_juvenile_ClaudioTimm.jpg)
![](../People/TimmClaudioSM/Gull,_Olrog's_Claudio_Timm.jpg)
![](../People/TimmClaudioSM/Gull, Olrog's Claudio D. Timm.jpg)
Gull,_Pacific Larus pacificus Found: Australia
Image by:
1) Dick Daniels - Featherdale Wildlife Park in Australia 2)
melbournian1 - Sandringham beach
3)
Nik_Borrow 4) Chensiyuan - Melbourne
5) Charlie Westerinen - Syndey, Australia 6)
Ron_Knight - Tasmania
1) Juvenile
![](../Daniels/Australasia/PhotosSmall/gull, pacific Featherdale AU 2.jpg)
![](../Images1SM/Gull,_Pacific_melbournian1.jpg)
![](../People/BorrowNikSM/Gull,_Pacific_Nik_Borrow.jpg)
![](../Images4SM/Gull,_Pacific_Chensiyuan.jpg)
![](../People/Westerinen/WesterinenSM/Gull, Pacific_CharlieWesterinen.jpg)
Gull,_Ring-billed Larus delawarensis Found: North America,
Europe
Image by: 1)
Mdf - Ontario
2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12) Dick Daniels - North Carolina
1) Juvenile 2, 3) Immature 4, 5, 6) Nonbreeding 9. 10) Breeding
![](../People/MdfSM/Gull,_Ring-billed_Mdf.jpg)
![](../Daniels1SM/gull, ring-billed 02-15 b.jpg)
![](../Daniels3SM/Gull,_Ring-billed_2015.jpg)
![](../Daniels1SM/gull, ring-billed 02-15 head.jpg)
![](../Daniels2SM/gull, ringed-bill 11-02c OIB.jpg)
![](../Daniels3SM/Gull,_Ring-billed_2016.jpg)
![](../Daniels2SM/Gull,_Ring-billed_2012RWD.jpg)
![](../Daniels1SM/gull, ring-billed 02-03 f.jpg)
![](../Daniels1SM/gull, ring-billed 02-19.jpg)
![](../Daniels1SM/gull, ring-billed 02-15 c.jpg)
![](../Daniels1SM/gull, ring-billed 02-15 f.jpg)
Gull,_Slaty-backed Larus schistisagus Found: North America (infrequent),
eastern coast of Asia
Image by: 1)
Charles Lem 2)
Hiyashi Halso 3)
Herman Mays - Japan 4)
E-190 5)
Seabamirum - New York
1) Juvenile 2, 3) Adult, nonbreeding 4) Adult, breeding
![](../Images2SM/Gull, Slaty-backed Charles Lem.jpg)
![](../People/HakaSM/Gull, Slaty-backed_HiyashiHaka.jpg)
![](../Images3SM/Gull,_Slaty-backed_HermanMays.jpg)
![](../Images2SM/Gull, Slaty-backed E-190.jpg)
Gull,_Thayer's Larus thayeri Found: North America
Image by: 1)
Jorge Montejo - Mexico 2)
Jerry Oldenettel - New Mexico
3)
Maggie Smith - California 4)
Nathan Hamm 5)
Maholyoak - Monterey, California
1, 2, 3) Juvenile 5) Nonbreeding (front), breeding (rear)
![](../People/MontejoJorgeSM/Gull,_Thayers_JorgeMontejo.jpg)
![](../People/OldenettelSM/Gull,_Thayer's_JerryOldenettel.jpg)
![](../People/SmithMaggieSM/Gull,_Thayers_MaggieSmith.jpg)
![](../Images1SM/Gull,_Thayer's_NathanHamm.jpg)
Gull,_Western Larus occidentalis Found: Pacific coast North America
Image by: 1)
Basar - California
2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) Dick Daniels - California 3)
Lucina M 10)
Nicholas D - Alaska
1, 2) Juvenile
![](../Images6SM/Gull,_Western_Basar.jpg)
![](../Daniels2SM/Gull,_Western_juvenile_Monterey.jpg)
![](../Images3SM/Gull,_Western_LucinaM.jpg)
![](../Daniels2SM/gull, western 06-08a CA.jpg)
![](../Daniels1SM/gull, western 10-15 c CA.jpg)
![](../Daniels2SM/Gull,_Western_Monterey3.jpg)
![](../Daniels2SM/Gull,_Western_HMB6.jpg)
![](../Daniels2SM/Gull,_Western_HMB4.jpg)
Gull,_Yellow-footed Larus livens Found: Pacific coast North America
Image by:
1, 3) Jerry Oldenettel - California 2)
Amy McAndrews - Mexico 4)
Steve Ryan
1) Juvenile
![](../People/OldenettelSM/Gull,_Yellow-footed_JerryOldenettel2.jpg)
![](../People/McAndrewsSM/Gull,_Yellow-footed_AmyMcAndrews.jpg)
![](../People/OldenettelSM/Gull,_Yellow-footed_JerryOldenettel.jpg)
Gull,_Yellow-legged Larus michahellis Found:
North America (rare), Europe , Africa
Image by: 1)
Jorg Hempel - Thasos, Greece 2)
Julio
Reis - Porto, Portugal 3)
Alvesgasper
4)
Sergey Yeliseev - Turkey 5)
Frankie Chu 6) Charlie Westerinen - Hamburg, Germany 7) Video by
Avibirds.
More vidoes
![](../Images2SM/Gull, Yellow-legged Jorg Hempel.jpg)
![](../Images2SM/Gull, Yellow-legged Julio Reis.jpg)
![](../Images2SM/Gull, Yellow-legged Alvesgasper.jpg)
![](../People/YeliseevSM/Gull,_Yellow-legged_SergeyYeliseev.jpg)
![](../Images3SM/Gull,_Yellow-legged_FrankieChu.jpg)
![](../People/Westerinen/WesterinenSM/Gull,_Yellow-legged_CharlieWesterinen.jpg)
Genus Leucophaeus
New World gulls. All have white crescents above and below the eyes.
Gull,_Dolphin Leucophaeus scoresbii Found: South America
Image by: 1)
Charlie Westerinen - Ushuaia, Argentina
2, 6, 7)
Claudio D. Timm - Argentina
3, 8) D. Faulkner - Falkland Islands 4, 5) Nick Athanas 7)
Liam Quinn - Argentina 9)
Nik_Borrow - Falkland Islands
1) First cycle plumage
![](../People/Westerinen/WesterinenSM/Gull,_Dolphin_CharlieWesterinen.jpg)
![](../People/TimmClaudioSM/Gull,_Dolphin_juvenile_ClaudioTimm.jpg)
![](../Images3SM/Gull,_Dolphin_D_Faulkner2.jpg)
![](../People/AthanasSM/Gull,_Dolphin_Nick_Athanas_eq2.jpg)
![](../People/AthanasSM/Gull,_Dolphin_Nick_Athanas_eq.jpg)
![](../People/TimmClaudioSM/Gull,_Dolphin_ClaudioTimm3.jpg)
![](../People/TimmClaudioSM/Gull, Dolphin Claudio D. Timm.jpg)
![](../Images3SM/Gull,_Dolphin_D_Faulkner.jpg)
Gull,_Franklin's Leucophaeus pipixcan Found: west-central North America, Pacific coast S. America. Vagrant:
Europe, Africa, Australia
Image by: 1)
aberlin2009 2)
Johaan du Preez - South Africa 3)
Leppyone - Florida
4)
Aviceda - SE Queensland, Australia
5, 6) Kaleomokuokanalu - Hawaii
1, 2) Juvenile 3) Adult, nonbreeding 4 - 6) Adult, breeding
![](../Images1SM/Gull,Franklin's_aberlin2009.jpg)
![](../Images1SM/Gull,_Franklin's_JoMur.jpg)
![](../People/AvicedaSM/Gull, Franklin's Aviceda.jpg)
![](../Images3SM/Gull,_Franklins_Kaleomokuokanalu2.jpg)
Gull,_grey Leucophaeus modestus Found: Mexico (rare), Pacific coast of South America
Image by: 1, 2)
Nick Athanas - Peru, Ecuador 3)
Luc Bettinelli 4, 5) Dick Daniels - Chile
1) Juvenile
5) Grary gull with Whimbrel
![](../People/AthanasSM/Gull,_Gray_juvenile_Nick_Athanas_eq.jpg)
![](../People/AthanasSM/Gull,_Gray_Nick_Athanas_eq.jpg)
![](../Images2SM/Gull, Grey Luc Bettinelli.jpg)
![](../Daniels/ChileSM/Gull,_Gray.jpg)
Gull,_Laughing Leucophaeus atricilla Found: The Americas, Australia Vagrant: Europe, Africa
Image by:
1, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11) Dick Daniels - North Carolina
2, 3, 4, 6) Dick - Panama 12)
Thomas Redican - Texas
1, 2) Juvenile 3) 2nd winter 4, 5, 6) Nonbreeding 7 - 12) Breeding
![](../Daniels1SM/gull, laughing, juvenile 09-18 f.jpg)
![](../Daniels/PanamaSM/Gull,_Laughing_Pedasi1b.jpg)
![](../Daniels/PanamaSM/Gull,_Laughing_juvenile_Pedasi.jpg)
![](../Daniels/PanamaSM/Gull,_Laughing_Pedasi2.jpg)
![](../Daniels1SM/gull, laughing 02-24 c.jpg)
![](../Daniels/PanamaSM/Gull,_Laughing_Pedasi1c.jpg)
![](../Daniels1SM/gull, laughing 03-13 a.jpg)
![](../Daniels1SM/gull, laughing 03-22c.jpg)
![](../Daniels1SM/gull, laughing 03-22a.jpg)
![](../Daniels1SM/Gull, Laughing April 2010 Calabash.jpg)
![](../Daniels1SM/gull, laughing 04-30b dophin cruise.jpg)
Gull,_Lava Leucophaeus fuliginosus Found: Galapagos Islands. Rare.
Image by:
1, 2, 3) Dick Daniels - Santa Cruz Island
of the Galapagos 4)
Nick Athanas - Santa Cruz Island
![](../Daniels/Galapagos/Photos Small/gull, lava 10-28 2.jpg)
![](../Daniels/Galapagos/Photos Small/gull, lava 10-28 b.jpg)
![](../Daniels/Galapagos/Photos Small/gull, lava 10-28 e.jpg)
Genus Pagophila - 1 species
Gull,_Ivory Pagophila eburnea Found: circumpolar, including North America
Image by: 1)
US Fish and Wildlife Service - Anchorage, Alaska
2, 3, 4)
Alan Vernon - California
1) Juvenile
![](../Images2SM/Gull, Ivory USFWLS.jpg)
![](../People/VernonAlanSM/Gull,_Ivory2_AlanVernon.jpg)
![](../People/VernonAlanSM/Gull,_Ivory4_AlanVernon.jpg)
Genus Rhodostethia - 1 species
Gull,_Ross's Rhodostethia rosea Found: north North America, Europe
Image by: 1)
Unknown 2)
Seabaminum - New York 3)
John Breitsch - Colorado 4)
Dominic Sherony - Manitoba
1) Juvenile 2, 3) Nonbreeding 4) Breeding
![](../Images6SM/Gull,_Ross_.jpg)
![](../People/LenzTimSM/Gull,_Ross's_Seabaminum.jpg)
![](../Images1SM/Gull,_Ross's_JohnBreitsch.jpg)
Genus Rissa
Kittiwakes are the only gulls that nest on cliffs.
Kittiwake, Black-legged also
Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla Found: North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, South America
Image by: 1)
Seabamirum - Massachusetts 2)
Bill Bouton - California
3, 4, 5) Dick Daniels - Seward, Alaska
6, 7) Dick - Homer, Alaska
8, 9) Dick - Scotland
1, 2) Juvenile 3, 4) Nonbreeding 5 - 9) Breeding
![](../People/LenzTimSM/Kittiwake,_Black-legged_Seabamirum.jpg)
![](../People/BoutonBillSM/Kittiwake,_Black-legged_BillBouton.jpg)
![](../Daniels/AlaskaSM/Kittiwake,_Black-legged_Seward1.jpg)
![](../Daniels/AlaskaSM/Kittiwake,_Black-legged_Seward3.jpg)
![](../Daniels/AlaskaSM/Kittiwake,_Black-legged_Seward.jpg)
![](../Daniels/AlaskaSM/Kittiwake,_Black-legged_GullIsland.jpg)
![](../Daniels/GreatBritain/PhotosSmall/kittiwake 06-05d SCOT.jpg)
Kittiwake, Red-legged also
Kittiwake Rissa brevirostris Found: west North America, Asia
Image by:
1, 2, 3) Dick Daniels - Alaska Sea Life Center in Seward 4) Nic MclPhee - Seward
![](../Daniels/AlaskaSM/Kittiwake,_Red-legged_AlaskaSeaLifeCenter9.jpg)
![](../Daniels/AlaskaSM/Kittiwake,_Red-legged_AlaskaSeaLifeCenter7.jpg)
![](../Daniels/AlaskaSM/Kittiwake,_Red-legged_AlaskaSeaLifeCenter2.jpg)
Genus Saundersilarus - 1 species
Gull,_ Saunder's Saundersilarus saundersi also
Chroicocephalus saundersi Found: Asia
Image by:
1, 2) Charles Lam - Hong Kong
1) Nonbreeding 2) Breeding
![](../People/LamCharlesSM/Gull,_Saunders_CharlesLam2.jpg)
![](../People/LamCharlesSM/Gull,_Saunders_CharlesLam.jpg)
Genus Xema - 1 species
Gull,_Sabine's Xema sabini Found: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia (vagrant)
Image by: 1)
Amy McAndrew - Mexico 2)
Lawrie Phipps - United Kingdom 3)
Greg Schechter - California 4)
Blake Matheson - California 5)
Jerry Oldenettel - California
6, 7) Ómar Runólfsson - Iceland
1, 2, 3) Juvenile 4) Nonbreeding 5, 6, 7) Breeding
![](../People/McAndrewsSM/Gull,_Sabine's_AmyMcAndrews.jpg)
![](../Images3SM/Gull,_Sabines_LawriePhipps.jpg)
![](../People/MathesonBlakeSM/Gull,_Sabines_BlakeMatheson.jpg)
![](../People/OldenettelSM/Gull,_Sabine's_JerryOldenettel.jpg)
![](../People/RunolfssonSM/Gull,_Sabine's_OmarRunolfssonor.jpg)