Laughing Gull | Laughing, Gulls, Their, Them, Have

Laughing Gull (Larus atricilla)

Laughing gulls are most easily recognized by the characteristic high pitched “ha, ha, ha” laugh-like call that gave them their name. Identification by their appearance may be more difficult as their appearance changes depending on the time of year and the age of the bird. Adult laughing gulls are about one foot long from head to tail and have a wingspan of about three feet. Both sexes are similar in size and color. In the summer months, adults are mostly white with a dark grey back, black head, grey wings with black tips, red bills and white tails. During the winter months, the dark coloration on the head fades to a more mottled brown and a dark line becomes visible on the head. It takes about 3 years for immature laughing gulls to attain their adult plumage. The juvenile birds are a mottled brown color with a grey abdomen, have paler heads than the adults, and black bills.

Laughing gulls gather in large colonies and breed in coastal marshes and ponds. They make their nests on the ground and build them from grasses found in the area. Females reproduce only once per year and usually lay 3 to 4 greenish colored eggs, which are then incubated for 3 weeks. Laughing gulls, like most gulls, are omnivores and will eat almost anything. Their main diet consists of small crustaceans and fish, but they are also known scavengers and it is not unusual to see a laughing gull flying over someone’s beach picnic waiting for scraps. Laughing gulls also spend time out at sea but, although they are good swimmers, they rarely dive into the water.

These birds are beautiful to look at and amazing to watch. Over time, many of these birds have become used to people and may even approach them. However, they are wild animals and if you are approached please do not feed them. In most cases, they are perfectly healthy and capable of catching their own meal, and human food is not a good diet for them!