Gulls are most closely related to the terns . 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 29-76 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. [abstracted from Wikipedia]


Genus Larus

Gull, Black-tailed  Larus crassirostris  Found: North America (rare), Asia
Photographed by: 1, 2)  Angie from Sawara, Chiba-ken, Japan  3) Bamse on ferry across Tokyo bay
Note the white edge of the black tail. Also a black and red spot at the end of the bill.


Gull, Caspian  Larus cachinnans  Found: Europe, Asia
Photographed by: 1, 2) Marek Szczepanek
    Similar to Herring Gull
2) Juvenile


Gull, Common aka Mew Gull Larus canus   Found: North America Europe, Asia
Photographed by: 1, 3, 4, 6, 7) Dick Daniels - Homer, Alaska  5, 8) Dick at Denali National Park, Alaska
   2) Alan D Wilson - Whiffin Spit Park, Sooke, Near Victoria, British Columbia
5 - 8) Adult bneeding


9, 10, 11, 12) Dick Daniels - Scotland
10) Common Gull in front, Herring Gull in back


Gull, Glaucous Larus hyperboreus   Found: North America, Europe, Asia
Photographed by:  1) US Fish and Wildlife Service - Aleutian Islands  2) Dick Daniels - Alaska


Gull, American Herring Larus smithsonianus   Found: North America, Asia
Also considered by some as a subspecies of the Europen Herring Gull (Larus argentatus).
Photographed by: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9) Dick Daniels - North Carolina  3) Dick - New Hampshire  7) Dick - New Jersey   10) Dick - Maine

Arranged approximately according to age



Gull, Slaty-backed  Larus schistisagus  Found: North America, eastern coast of Asia
E-190 2) Charles Lem
2) Juvenile