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 Chroicocephalus

Gull, Black-headed Chroicocephalus ridibundus   Found: North America, Europe 
Photographed by: 1, 2 Dick Daniels in North Carolina   3 , 4) Dick - Scotland 


Gull, Grey-headed  Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus  Found: South America, Europe, Africa
Photographed by:   1)  Nicolas Barcet  2) Gabriel Buissart - Delta du Sine Saloum SN 
  3) Cláudio Timm in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil



Genus Ichthyaetus

Gull, Mediterranean Ichthyaetus melanocephalus Found: Europe
Photographed by: 1) Martin Olsson  - Sweden   2) Mark Robinson - England  3) Dan Davison - England
1, 2) Breeding   3) Non breeding



Genus Larus

Gull, Iceland  Larus glaucoides  Found: North America (northern), Europe
Photographer: 1) Mdf - Bluffer's Park, Toronto, Canada   2) Mpf - North Shields Fish Quay, Northumberland, UK
2) 1st winter


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, European Herring  Larus argentatus  Found: Europe
Photographed by: 1) Kurt Kulac - Helgoland, Germany  2) Jalil Arfaoui  3) Edward Webb - Cornwall, England
3) Adult with young


Gull, Ring-billed Larus delawarensis   Found: North America, Europe
Photographed by: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8) Dick Daniels - North Carolina



Gull, Yellow-legged  Larus michahellis   Found: Europe, Africa 
Photographed by:  1) Jorg Hempel - Thasos, Greece  2) Julio Reis - Porto, Portugal  3) Alvesgasper


Gull, Great Black-backed Larus marinus   Found: North America, Europe
Photographed by: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) Dick Daniels
1) Great Black-Backed Gull is larger than Herring Gull
2) Back: adult Herring Gull and 2 adult Great Black Backs.
      Middle: juvenile Lesser Black Backed and juvenile Great Black Backed.
      Front: juvenile Herring Gull.
7, 8, 9) Juveinle




Gull, Lesser Black-backed Larus fuscus Found: North America, Europe, Africa
Photographed by: 1) Dick Daniels - North Carolina  2, 3, 4, 5) Dick - Scotland
Juvenile has pink legs and all black bill.

Note the yellow legs compared to pink of the great black-backed gull.



Genus Leucophaeus
New World gulls. All have  white crescents above and below the eyes.

Gull, Franklin's  Leucophaeus pipixcan  Found: The Americas, vagrant to Europe, Africa, Australia
Photographed by: 1) Aviceda - SE Queensland, Australia



Genus Rissa

Kittiwake, Black-legged aka Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla   Found: North America, Europe
Photographed by: 1, 2, 3, 4) Dick Daniels - Seward, Alaska  5) Dick - Gull Island, Kachemak Bay, Alaska 
    6) Dick - Homer, Alaska  7, 8, 9, 10) Dick - Scotland
1, 2, 3) Nonbreeding   4 - 10) Breeding