Along the rugged coastline and vast interior of British Columbia, a diversity of gull species soar on the Pacific winds and gather along shorelines, lakes, and rivers. From the bold, opportunistic herring gull patrolling the beaches to the delicate Bonaparte’s gull breeding in secluded marshes, BC provides vital habitat for these intelligent birds. The calls of gulls form an iconic soundscape, from the laughing cries of mew gulls to the piercing screams of the western gull. Join us as we explore eight of the most common and recognizable gulls found throughout British Columbia – from identification tips to fascinating details on lifestyle and behavior. A world of white wings and wild winds awaits.
| Gull Type | Size | Distinguishing Features |
|---|---|---|
| Herring Gull | 25 inches long | Light grey back, black wingtips with white spots, yellow bill with red spot |
| Glaucous-winged Gull | 27 inches long | Pale grey back, black wingtips, yellow bill and legs |
| Mew Gull | 16-18 inches long | Slender yellow bill, greenish legs |
| California Gull | 19-24 inches long | Yellow-green legs, black ring on yellow bill |
| Thayer’s Gull | 21-26 inches long | Yellow bill with droop at tip, pink to yellowish legs |
| Western Gull | 25 inches long | Yellow bill and legs, red orbital eye ring |
| Bonaparte’s Gull | 13-16 inches long | Black head in summer, orange-red legs |
| Ring-billed Gull | 18-21 inches long | Black band on yellow bill, yellow legs |
Table of Contents
1. Herring Gull
The herring gull (Larus argentatus) is one of the most common and recognizable gulls found along the coast of British Columbia. Adults have light grey upperparts, white underparts, and black wingtips with white spots known as “mirrors”. Their legs are pink and their bill is yellow with a red spot. Herring gulls measure around 25 inches in length and have a wingspan of up to 60 inches.
Herring gulls are opportunistic feeders and scavengers. They will eat fish, shellfish, eggs, small mammals, insects, human food waste, and more. These intelligent birds have adapted well to urban environments where they can take advantage of garbage as a food source. During the breeding season, herring gulls nest in colonies on offshore islands, rooftops, and cliffs along the coast. The female lays 2-3 speckled olive brown eggs which both parents incubate for around 28 days. Chicks are able to fly at 6-7 weeks old.
Some key facts about the herring gull:
– Found along the entire coast of BC as well as inland near garbage dumps and landfills.
– Recognizable by their piercing calls sounding like “laughing” or “gak-gak-gak”.
– Medium-sized gull around 25 inches long with grey back, white underparts, yellow bill with red spot.
– Opportunistic feeders who will eat fish, garbage, eggs, small mammals, and more.
– Nests in colonies on offshore islands, rooftops, and cliffs. Female lays 2-3 eggs.
– Chicks hatch after 28 days and can fly at 6-7 weeks old.
– Population has increased due to availability of garbage as a food source.
2. Glaucous-winged Gull
The glaucous-winged gull (Larus glaucescens) is a large gull species commonly found along the west coast of North America. In British Columbia, it is abundant and widespread, nesting on islands and cliffs along the entire coast.
Adult glaucous-winged gulls are distinctively marked with pale grey upperparts, white underparts, and jet black wingtips. The wingtips are marked with white “mirrors”. The head is white with a yellow bill and pink legs. These gulls measure around 27 inches long with a wingspan exceeding 60 inches.
The glaucous-winged gull feeds on fish, marine invertebrates, intertidal organisms, eggs, carrion, garbage, and human food waste. At colonies, they may even prey on the eggs and chicks of other bird species. They forage in marine habitats as well as at garbage dumps, agricultural fields, and in urban areas.
This species breeds in colonies on coastal cliffs, islands, log booms, and rooftops from April to August. Nests consist of seaweed, moss, and grasses. The female lays 1-3 brown speckled eggs which are incubated by both parents for around 28 days. Chicks fledge at 7-9 weeks old.
Some key facts about the glaucous-winged gull:
– Abundant resident gull along the BC coast. Recognized by pale grey back and black wingtips.
– Feeds on fish, marine invertebrates, eggs, carrion, garbage, and more.
– Nests colonially on cliffs, islands, booms, and rooftops from April to August.
– Female lays 1-3 eggs incubated for 28 days. Chicks fledge at 7-9 weeks.
– Increased in numbers due to availability of food waste from human activities.
– Known for its loud, laughing call sounds like “gua-gua-gua”.
3. Mew Gull
The mew gull (Larus canus) is a small-sized gull that can be found along the coast of British Columbia year-round. Adults are identified by their greenish-yellow legs, rounded head shape, and bill that is more slender and pointed than other gulls. Their upperparts are a light grey, underparts are white, and the wingtips are black with white “mirrors”. They measure 16-18 inches long with a 39-43 inch wingspan.
Mew gulls feed on insects, fish, marine invertebrates, and intertidal organisms. At coastal towns, they will readily scavenge for scraps and food waste provided by people. They forage in both marine and terrestrial habitats.
These gulls breed April through July in scattered nesting colonies, preferring offshore islands and islets. The nest consists of seaweed and grasses lined with moss. The female lays 2-3 brownish olive eggs with dark splotches which are incubated by both parents for 21-28 days. Chicks fledge at 4-5 weeks old.
Some key facts about the mew gull:
– Small resident gull identified by slender yellow bill and greenish legs.
– Feeds on insects, fish, marine invertebrates, and food scraps from people.
– Nests colonially on offshore islands April-July. Female lays 2-3 eggs.
– Eggs incubate for 21-28 days. Chicks fledge at 4-5 weeks.
– Population has declined in BC possibly due to habitat loss.
– Named for its mewing “keow” call.
4. California Gull
The California gull (Larus californicus) is a medium-sized gull that breeds inland in southern British Columbia and migrates coastally during winter. Adults are white with pale grey upperparts, black wingtips with white spots, and yellow-green legs. The bill is also yellow with a black ring and red dot. They measure 19-24 inches long with a 49-55 inch wingspan.
From April to July, California gulls nest colonially on islands in lakes and rivers in BC’s interior. Both parents incubate the 2-3 brown speckled eggs for around 28 days until hatching. Chicks fledge in 4-5 weeks. The rest of the year this species resides coastally, feeding on fish, invertebrates, and garbage.
During migration and winter, California gulls mingle with other white-headed gulls along the BC coast. However, their yellow-green legs and eyes readily distinguish them. Their call is a deep laughing cry.
Some key facts about the California gull:
– Medium-sized gull with yellow-green legs. Breeds inland but winters on coast.
– Nests colonially on islands on inland lakes and rivers from April-July.
– 2-3 eggs incubate for 28 days. Chicks fledge in 4-5 weeks.
– Feeds on fish, invertebrates, eggs, and garbage.
– Population stable with around 13,000 birds in BC.
– Named for the gull’s original discovery in California in the 1850s.
5. Thayer’s Gull
Thayer’s gull (Larus thayeri) is a large gull that breeds in Arctic regions and migrates south down the coast to winter in British Columbia. Adults have a white head and underparts, pale grey upperparts, and bold black wingtips with white “mirrors”. The yellow bill is long and droops slightly at the tip. Legs range from pink to pale yellowish. They measure 21-26 inches long with a 57 inch wingspan.
On the breeding grounds, Thayer’s gulls nest colonially on inland lakes, rivers, and tundra wetlands from late May through July. The nest consists of grasses and moss lined with lichens and feathers. 2-4 brown, dark-spotted eggs are laid. After 3-4 weeks of incubation, the eggs hatch and chicks fledge in about 6 weeks.
During winter along the BC coast, Thayer’s gulls can be found both inland and in marine habitats. They are opportunistic feeders, foraging on fish, marine invertebrates, insects, small vertebrates, eggs, berries, and more. They readily scavenge in dumps and urban areas.
Some key facts about Thayer’s gull:
– Large Arctic-breeding gull with drooping yellow bill. Winters along BC coast.
– Nests colonially on Arctic lakes and tundra in late May-July. 2-4 eggs laid.
– Chicks hatch after 3-4 weeks incubation and fledge in 6 weeks.
– Opportunistic feeders eating fish, invertebrates, eggs, berries, garbage.
– Population estimated at 120,000 and holds steady.
– Named after Dr. John E. Thayer who first described the species.
6. Western Gull
The western gull (Larus occidentalis) is a large, common gull residing year-round along the entire coast of British Columbia. Adults are white with light grey back and wings, black wingtips, bright yellow-orange bill and legs, and a red orbital ring around the eyes. They measure around 25 inches long with a 66 inch wingspan.
Western gulls nest in colonies on offshore islands and coastal cliffs from April to August. The 2-3 brown or green speckled eggs are incubated for 4-5 weeks, with chicks fledging about 7 weeks after hatching. These gulls feed opportunistically on fish, invertebrates, eggs, small vertebrates, carrion, and garbage.
Along the coast, the western gull’s loud calls are a familiar sound. Their long, drawn-out screams sound like “keeerr…raaark” or “aaaark”. At nesting colonies they make a choking “ka ka ka” sound when disturbed. This bold and aggressive gull readily dominates other shorebirds.
Some key facts about the western gull:
– Resident gull of BC coast. Identified by yellow bill and legs.
– Breeds April-August on offshore islands and cliffs. 2-3 eggs laid.
– Eggs hatch in 4-5 weeks. Chicks fledge at 7 weeks.
– Feeds on fish, invertebrates, eggs, carrion, garbage.
– Aggressive and bold. Well adapted to urban environments.
– Population stable at over 100,000 birds.
7. Bonaparte’s Gull
Bonaparte’s gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia) is a small migratory gull that summers in British Columbia to breed before returning south in winter. Adults have a distinctive black head during breeding season and medium grey upperparts with white underparts all year-round. The legs are orange-red and the bill is black. They measure 13-16 inches long with a 34-37 inch wingspan.
These gulls arrive in BC to breed starting in April, nesting in colonies in isolated bogs and marshes throughout the interior. The female lays 2-4 olive to brown eggs with dark spots in a nest of grasses and mosses. After 23-26 days incubation, the eggs hatch and chicks fledge in 4 weeks.
Bonaparte’s gulls forage primarily on insects and other small invertebrates. They also eat fish, amphibians, seeds, and berries. They migrate south along the coast by September to winter along the U.S. Pacific Coast, Gulf of Mexico, and into Mexico.
Some key facts about Bonaparte’s gull:
– Small migratory gull with black head in summer. Nests in BC interior bogs.
– Arrives April to breed. 2-4 eggs laid and incubated for 23-26 days.
– Chicks fledge at 4 weeks old. Feeds mainly on insects and invertebrates.
– Migrates south September to winter along U.S. and Mexico coasts.
– Population estimated at 300,000-500,000 and appears stable.
– Named after Charles Lucien Bonaparte, a nineteenth-century American ornithologist.
8. Ring-billed Gull
The ring-billed gull (Larus delawarensis) is a medium-sized gull that breeds in the interior of British Columbia and migrates to winter along the coast. Adults have light grey upperparts, white underparts, yellow legs, and a yellow bill with a distinctive black band near the tip. They measure 18-21 inches long with a 49-54 inch wingspan.
Ring-billed gulls arrive in BC’s interior in April to colonially nest near lakes, rivers, and wetlands. The female lays 2-4 brownish eggs with dark splotches in a nest lined with grasses and moss. After 3-4 weeks incubating, the eggs hatch and chicks fledge in 4-5 weeks. They forage on fish, insects, rodents, and waste.
By September, ring-billed gulls migrate south to winter along the coast where they mingle with other white-headed gulls and forage in marine and urban habitats. Their call is a harsh, laughing “ka-ka-ka”.
Some key facts about the ring-billed gull:
– Medium-sized gull with black ring on yellow bill. Breeds inland, winters on coast.
– Nests colonially near lakes and rivers starting in April. 2-4 eggs laid.
– Eggs hatch in 3-4 weeks, chicks fledge in 4-5 weeks.
– Feeds on fish, insects, rodents, waste.
– Migrates coastally by September. Call is “ka-ka-ka”.
– Population increasing and exceeds 1 million birds.