Where seagulls build their nests. Listen to the voice of a sea gull

Almost every bird has its own story or legend. AND seagull bird not an exception. There is a legend about the pink ones, according to which beautiful girls were deceived by an evil witch.

She was jealous of their beauty and tricked them into taking a bath in the icy pink water, where they died. But their souls continued to live in pink gulls. They come to the aid of drowning sailors. This variety can be seen on photo of seagull birds.

Features and habitat of the seagull

Seagulls live wherever there is sea, some species live near fresh water bodies and rivers. In many countries, seagulls are highly valued; they are scavengers and clean beaches. On the other hand, these birds are very noisy, dirty buildings and steal food. In addition, they are also very cunning.

The photo shows a pink seagull

A lot of various types these birds, and they all have similar features:

• long wings;
• flowing body;
• almost square tail;
• The color of females and males is the same;
• young birds have brownish plumage;
• and here are the old ones gull birds are white;
• the size can be very different, from large specimens to very miniature ones;
• strong beak with a hook at the end;
• legs of medium length, color red or black.

All gulls lead a colonial lifestyle. These colonies reach several thousand birds. The seagull is a seabird with membranes that allow them to move well in the water, but they are not ocean birds.

The seagull is a monogamous bird; pairs form on for a long time. They are excellent flyers, but also walk well on land. To the question: “ Is the seagull a migratory bird or not?? You can answer yes and no. Most seagulls fly to warmer climes, but some remain to spend the winter in cities if they have something to feed on.

Types of gull birds

Common seagull or lake. They live in Eurasia and the coasts of Canada. They can often be found on Russian territory, begging for food on sea vessels. Body weight is not very large, on average from 240 to 400 g. The physique is slender.

They nest near freshwater bodies of water and even city landfills. They don’t particularly like the sea; they stop there only during the flight. They fly away at the end of August and return in April. They migrate in small flocks, flying in the form of a triangle.

They also nest in colonies, in reeds surrounded by water. They lay up to three eggs, dirty green in color with gray spots (they can be eaten). The robbers are treated very aggressively, they even attack people, and the predators are put to flight.

Both partners incubate the eggs for about 24 days. The parents begin feeding the chicks almost immediately, regurgitating food into the chick's beak. On the territory of bird nests you can often see killed chicks; when they grow up, they begin to wander into other people’s nests, where they are killed by adult seagulls.

sea ​​gull. A large bird, about 70 cm long. The tips of the wings are white, and the back and the rest of the wing are gray. Pink legs, dark beak. The length of the beak is 6 cm. It swims well and can even sleep on the water.

Throughout the year they feed in garbage dumps and fishing ports. You can meet them in America, on the coasts of the North Sea and the coasts of Europe.

sea ​​gull

They nest in a visible place so that they can easily save the eggs. Some couples climb to the top of the rocks. Since the sea gull is quite big bird she has no enemies. The female lays three eggs, which are incubated by both partners.

Chicks at the age of eight weeks are already excellent fliers. Seagulls are true predators; they eat not only the eggs of other birds, but also the impressively sized adults themselves. - seagull-like bird, but is not it. This is a completely different family - terns.

Tern bird

Big Arctic gull . The bird is quite large, weighing from 1300 to 2500 g. The color is white with a bluish mantle on the back. In general, the whole bird is very light shade. Lives in Europe, Asia and America.

Nests are built on cliffs or on the seashore. They nest alone or in flocks. Near bird colonies, where they feed on the eggs of other birds. Most often three eggs are laid. The polar gull is a dangerous predator, feeds on carrion and kills many birds and animals.

Pictured is a polar gull

Character and lifestyle of a seagull

Seagulls are very voracious birds, and in order to eat well they show extraordinary intelligence. To feast on shellfish, a seagull flies high into the sky and drops the shell onto a rock until it opens.

Many birds fly to warmer climes, but some walk around cities in search of food. They easily adapt to any habitat. They are not at all afraid of people, and even beg for fish and bread from them.

They can circle over the water for hours, carve out prey, and then fly down like an arrow and even dive into the water after it. They often circle over whales and dolphins in the hope of profiting from something from their prey.

On the shore they eat shellfish, and... They do not disdain carrion. To make their nests, they collect various types of garbage, even cans and scraps of nets. At the same time, they bring a lot of benefits, destroying pests and removing garbage from embankments.

Breeding seagulls

Gulls begin to breed at the age of one to four years. After the pairs have formed, the female begins to defiantly beg the male for food and he feeds her. Gulls also nest in large columns, at a distance of 50 cm to 10 meters. This is prudent, since many chicks like to wander around the surrounding area and can be killed in an unequal battle.

The nests are built from garbage and various rags, with a depression in the middle. Females lay one to three eggs, which both partners take turns incubating. They incubate them for three or four weeks.

Both parents also feed the chicks. The chicks are gluttonous and eat 5-6 times a day. After 10-12 days, the chicks go for a walk. After 40 days, the chicks can already fly.

If danger approaches the colony, all the birds fly up and begin to scream loudly and shower the intruder with droppings. Not the most pleasant event. Seagulls live about 15-20 years.

Seagull nest with chick

No matter how harmful and noisy this bird is, its benefits are much greater than its harm. In addition, it is difficult to imagine the coast of the Black Sea or other body of water without this cocky bird. Besides what kind of bird is a seagull No matter how they look, they all have the same character.

The herring gull is considered one of the most numerous and recognizable representatives of the order Charadriiformes. Its habitat is so wide that most ornithologists are confident in the existence of not one, but several closely related species.

Distribution area

The herring gull gravitates to cold regions. She inhabits the Northern Hemisphere. During the winter months, these birds move to Florida, southern China, Japan and the coast. They have chosen the UK, Scandinavia and Iceland for nesting. They can also be seen on the North Islands Arctic Ocean, in Canada, Alaska and the eastern shores of the USA.

Since the herring gull is highly dependent on aquatic food, it settles in coastal areas. It lives in mountains, cliffs, rocks, and sometimes in swampy areas. This bird has perfectly adapted to coexistence with people, so it often settles on the roofs of houses.

Short description

The herring gull is a large bird. The weight of an adult individual can reach one and a half kilograms. The average body length is about 55-65 centimeters. The head, neck and body of the bird are covered with white plumage. The wings and back are light gray in color. On the head of the seagull there is a beak compressed at the sides and curved at the end. It itself is yellow, but underneath it there is a red spot clearly visible.

Around the eyes, which are colored gray, there are narrow rings of yellow skin. Interestingly, the herring gull acquires light plumage only in the fourth year of life. Until this moment, the young animals have a variegated color, in which brown and gray tones predominate. The feathers begin to lighten after the bird reaches two years of age. The head and iris of juveniles are brown.

Features of reproduction and life expectancy

In conditions wildlife The European herring gull lives on average 50 years. It is considered a highly organized bird. The complex relationships between representatives of this species are based on a kind of hierarchy. Males occupy the dominant position. The weaker sex dominates only in matters relating to the choice of a place for arranging a future nest.

These birds are monogamous. Except in rare cases, they create a couple of times and last a lifetime. Individuals who have reached the age of five are considered sexually mature. They begin to fly to the nesting site in April-May, immediately after the water is free of ice.

During the nesting period, these birds create entire colonies. The herring gull (larus argentatus) makes nests lined with feathers or wool on cliffs, rocky shores and in dense vegetation. Both the female and the male take part in the construction. At the same time, they use grass, tree branches, moss and dry algae as building materials. The distance between neighboring nests is about five meters.

As a rule, the female lays 2-4 eggs of a greenish-brown or olive hue with large dark spots, in which both parents participate in incubation. Moreover, during the change of partners sitting in the nest, the birds very carefully and carefully turn the eggs.

At the end of the four-week incubation period, the chicks are born. Their small bodies are covered with gray down with clearly visible dark spots. After two days, the babies can already stand on their own feet. After another couple of days, they begin to leave the parental nest, without moving long distances. If threatened, the chicks hide, becoming practically indistinguishable from the surrounding background. They begin to fly no earlier than they are one and a half months old. Parents alternately feed their offspring by regurgitating food for them. The basis of the diet of growing children is fish.

What do these birds eat?

It should be noted that the herring gull is omnivorous. It can often be seen near ships and in garbage dumps. Sometimes she even steals the eggs and young of other birds.

Representatives of this species catch larvae, insects, lizards and small rodents. They can also eat berries, fruits, nuts, tubers and grains. They do not hesitate to take prey from smaller and weaker relatives. They also catch sea worms, crustaceans and fish.

Features of coexistence with humans

Let us immediately note that the herring gull is not accustomed to standing on ceremony with people. This bird actively populates modern megacities and builds nests on roofs multi-storey buildings. She often attacks those who try to harm their offspring. There are also many known cases where insolent birds took food from the hands of passers-by right on the street.

However, over the past two decades there has been a tendency to reduce the number of representatives of this species. In Europe, gull populations have decreased by almost half. Scientists attribute this to the influence of environmental factors and depletion of fish stocks in coastal regions.

Activity, social behavior and vocalization

Despite this, herring gulls are diurnal and in certain situations they are active around the clock. This is especially true for birds inhabiting high latitudes in polar day conditions.

Representatives of this species are capable of producing a wide range of characteristic sounds. They can cluck, croak, howl and even meow. However, most often you can hear screams of laughter from them.

Gulls are colonial birds. Their communities can number more than one hundred couples. Sometimes smaller or mixed colonies are found. Each couple has their own carefully guarded area. If one of them is attacked by an external enemy, then the entire colony unites to protect their relatives. However, in peacetime, neighboring pairs can conflict with each other and even attack each other.

Relationships within the couple are also not easy. Especially during the mating season. At this time, the male ritually feeds his partner. And the female sits down near the nest and begins to squeak thinly, begging the male for food. After the eggs are laid, there is a gradual subsidence of the peculiar mating behavior, and soon it disappears altogether.

The herring gull, or northern black-billed gull, adheres to a strict hierarchy. The leader is always the male, and it is he who makes the choice for the female, who dominates in everything related to the construction of the nest. Almost all representatives of this family do not like to earn food by their own labor, preferring to take it from others.

Family Gulls / Laridae

This family includes gulls - one of the most famous birds, because they are usually numerous on beaches, rivers and lakes where people relax. They attract attention with their bright behavior and loudness. And having gotten into the habit of begging for handouts and eating in garbage dumps, the seagulls completely stopped being afraid of people. As already mentioned, some species on all continents began to nest in cities, where in some places they compete in numbers with rock pigeons. The sizes of seagulls vary greatly. There are very small species - from a thrush, others - from a goose. The plumage of gulls is mostly white, but the upperparts are usually darker - from light gray to black; the head of many species is black or brown, and the tips of the wings are black. Only adult birds have this coloration. Juveniles of most species are light brown and variegated in color. The wings are long, but quite wide. The beak is strong, with a hook at the end. The legs are of normal length, often red, yellow or black in color. The front 3 toes are connected by a membrane, the back toe is very small. Seagulls are excellent fliers, but they also walk well on land. They swim, but cannot dive. They usually nest in colonies, occupying a variety of places - flat sandy and grassy islands, large stones, steep rocks. Some species nest in trees. It is important for seagulls that they are not caught by predatory animals. Almost all species build large nests from plant material. A typical clutch of gulls contains 3 olive-colored eggs with brown spots and dots, condensed towards a blunt end. All seagulls are monogamous and caring parents. Incubation is from 20 to 30 days. The chicks have a protective coloring. They sit in the nest for a long time if they are not disturbed, although they can run well already on the second day of life. When frightened, they run away from the nest, hide and become unnoticeable. Seagulls feed on animal food, which they obtain on water and on land. They can eat locusts or wireworms, accompanying tractors in the fields. Some feed in certain situations on small mouse-like rodents and even gophers. But mostly seagulls feed, of course, near the water. They swallow food by sitting down on the water or grabbing it on the fly. They can swallow disproportionately large objects, since the thin flat branches of the lower jaw can diverge widely to the sides (streptognathism). In some cases, they feed on waste from various mining industries. Seagulls are distributed all over the world, except for the most polar points of the globe. They stay mainly near water, but are also found in the depths of deserts or on high mountain plateaus. The closest relatives of gulls are considered to be waders, but fossil forms that unite them have not yet been found. Real gulls have been known since the Lower Miocene, and even then they were very close to modern ones. There are 45 species in the gull family, the vast majority of them - 38 species - belong to the genus Larus. In Russia there are gulls of 5 genera and 22 species, 20 of them are nesting, 17 species belong to the genus Larus.

Gull /Larus ridibundus

The gull is common and almost everywhere the most numerous of our gulls. It is somewhat smaller in size than the common gull, weighing 250-400 g. Its physique is slender, its flight is light, maneuverable, and usually quite measured. It is painted whitish below, grayish-smoky above, with a dark brown head and black wing tips. The black-headed gull is widespread in the middle part of the Eurasian continent: from Iceland and Great Britain in the west to the Pacific Ocean and adjacent islands in the east. In most of its range it is a migratory bird. Winters in the southern parts of its range and in adjacent territories, penetrating south to the Azores, the Persian Gulf, Hindustan and the Philippines.

Gull

It lives in a variety of inland waters, and also lives along sea coasts during migration and wintering. In spring, black-headed gulls arrive early, when water bodies begin to open up and the snow has not yet completely melted. Depending on the geographical location of the area, this is observed from the end of February to the end of April. The first time after arrival, the birds roam close to the nesting sites and begin building nests relatively late, after the melt waters have subsided. Birds at the age of about two years and less often at one year of age participate in breeding. They nest in colonies, the size of which ranges from a few to several thousand pairs. Sometimes colonies are mixed with other species of gulls and terns. Nesting sites are predominantly stagnant and slowly flowing bodies of water - lakes, swamps, river backwaters and channels, surrounded by vegetation or having floodplains. Colonies are usually located on the same hard to reach places- on floodplains, marshy banks, etc. In April - May, and in the north even at the beginning of June, the female lays 3, less often 2 or 4 eggs of a dirty greenish color with gray and brown spots in the nest. Egg dimensions: 51-67 X 36-41 mm. Both birds incubate for 22-24 days. The hatched chicks can already stand after 12-16 hours. From the same time, and sometimes a day later, the parents begin to feed them, and before that they subsist on the remnants of the yolk sac. Adult chicks feed 4-5 times a day with burps, throwing it into their mouths. Already at two days of age, the chicks begin to make attempts to peck the food regurgitated in front of them. At about the age of 10 days, young gulls move from the nest into thickets of dense vegetation, staying together as a brood. An “alien” chick running past the nest, much less trying to climb into it or join the brood, is usually killed by an old seagull with a blow to the head with its beak. In this case, both small down feathers and large, almost fledged chicks suffer. On the territory of the nesting colony of gulls you can always find the corpses of chicks. At the age of 18-20 days, the chicks begin to wander on their own, and the adults cease to be hostile to “strangers” young gulls. At five weeks of age, the young fledge and begin to fly, but become fully flightable at six weeks of age. IN middle lane in mid-July, males begin to fly away from the nesting colony, ten days later they are followed by females, and in early August, young ones. The breeding season ends, and post-breeding migrations begin, gradually turning into autumn migration. The last migration takes place in September, lasting in the south until winter. Black-headed gulls feed mainly on animal food: aquatic and terrestrial insects, mouse-like rodents, fish, frogs, and earthworms. Gulls catch fish only from the surface of the water, and mainly sick individuals. The chicks are fed mainly on insects and earthworms. They collect food in the immediate vicinity of the nesting colony and, as an exception, fly to rich feeding grounds at a distance of up to 20 km from the nests. By catching harmful rodents and insects, seagulls bring great benefits to agriculture.

White seagull / Pagophila eburnea

The white gull is slightly larger in size than the common gull. This is a very active bird, with light and fast flight reminiscent of terns. It walks well on the ground and can even run across. Reluctant to sit on the water. The plumage of adults is pure white, while that of juveniles is white with dark streaks. Inhabits the islands of the Arctic Ocean within both Europe and Asia, and North America. In Russia it is found on Novaya Zemlya, Franz Josef Land, Bennett Islands, and Herald Islands. During non-breeding times, it wanders within the Arctic Ocean, staying at sea mainly near the edge of the pack ice. The ivory gull nests both on rocky and flat, low-lying shores, often in colonies. It flies to nesting sites early, in March - April, but begins breeding late.

White seagull

The nest is quite large, roughly built of algae, grass and moss, with straw, wood chips and feathers. In July, eggs appear in the nests. A clutch of 2, rarely 1 or 3 eggs is ocher-olive or brownish in color with dark spots. The female incubates predominantly for a little less than a month, starting with the laying of the first egg. In August, chicks hatch, covered in white down. Adult birds vigorously defend the nest and attack aliens, touching the person with their paws. In September the young take to the wing. At the end of this month and in October, gulls leave their nesting sites and begin to lead a nomadic lifestyle. Full, post-nuptial molt occurs in July - August, partial, pre-nuptial - in March - April. The diet of the white gull is peculiar. Perhaps, it mainly feeds on the waste of sealing and whaling, as well as the excrement of walruses, seals, and polar bears. In this regard, apparently, its distribution is confined to the outskirts of the ice. It also eats small fish, various invertebrates, and attacks chicks. As a rare species, the ivory gull deserves protection.

Great polar gull/ Larus hyperboreus

The Great Arctic Gull is a large bird whose weight ranges from 1400 to 2500 g. The plumage is white with a very pale bluish-grayish mantle and white wing tips. Unlike other large gulls, the wings are light, without black. The glaucous gull is widespread in the high latitudes of Europe, Asia and America, where in most cases it lives on the rocky coasts of continents and islands, less often in the coastal parts of the tundra. For the winter, it migrates south to the edge of the ice and further south, occasionally reaching the shores Mediterranean Sea, Japan and Florida. The glaucous glaucous bird is purely a seabird and does not fly far into the tundra.Flies to nesting sites depending on ice conditions in different parts range in March, April and May. Soon after arrival, you can see the birds soaring high above the nesting area and in sunny weather play in the air.

Great polar gull

They do not start building nests immediately, but after some time. Nests are made on rocks, often near cliffs, or on the gently sloping shores of the sea, rivers, and lakes. Do they nest alone or not? in large groups, but usually near bird colonies or on their outskirts. Eggs and chicks from these markets serve as the basis of nutrition for both the gulls themselves and their chicks. Both parents build nests. The building itself is careless and looks like either a hole with almost no lining, or a heap of moss, cereals and other dry plants with a shallow tray. The clutch consists of 2-4, usually 3 eggs, varying in color from grayish-ocher to pale grayish-brown with dark streaks. In different parts of the range, the laying time varies greatly: from the first half of May to the first half of July. Eggs are laid 48 hours apart. Both parents incubate for 27-28 days, starting with the laying of the first egg. Therefore, the chicks in the nest are of different ages. Both members of the couple feed them. The chicks fully fledge in August and take wing on different days of this month. The flight begins in September and continues into October. The Great Arctic Gull is an energetic predator. It feeds on eggs, chicks and adult birds of small and average size both in bird colonies and in the tundra. In addition, it feeds on marine debris, whaling remains, carrion, fish, aquatic invertebrates, and berries. Settled near bird colonies and eider colonies, it poses a serious threat to their inhabitants.

Brown-headed gull/Larus brunnicephalus

Fork-tailed gull/ Xema sabini

Small seagull /Larus minutus

The little gull is the smallest of our gulls, weighing 100-150 g. It also differs from other gulls in the color of its plumage. The back, shoulders and upper sides of the wings are a very light bluish-grayish color. There are white stripes across the wing and along its rear edge. The underwing is slate gray. The rest of the plumage is pure white with a pink tinge. The little gull is distributed from the islands of Great Britain in the west almost to Sea of ​​Okhotsk in the east, but not everywhere. It breeds in temperate parts of Europe, then, after a short break, in the northern half of Kazakhstan and in large parts of Western Siberia.

Small seagull

Then it is absent again and appears at the nesting grounds in the Baikal region, in the basin of the upper and middle Lena, in Eastern Mongolia and further east almost to the Sea of ​​Okhotsk. In addition to these three large areas, it is found in places as very tiny islands, absent over vast areas. Almost everywhere there is a migratory bird. The main wintering grounds lie in the west - in the Mediterranean and Black Seas. In smaller numbers it also winters along the shores of the Baltic and North Seas, off the islands of Great Britain, in the south of the Caspian Sea, in Japan and South China. Settles in wetlands of lakes and swamps with windows of water. Outside of nesting time, it lives both in fresh water bodies and on the sea coast. The little gull arrives later than most other gulls and terns, from late March to mid-May. Starts breeding mostly in the third year of life. It nests in colonies from several pairs to 50 and even several hundred pairs, often together with the white-winged tern. Nests are located on open salt marshes, among sedges and reeds, on hummocks, reed floors, etc. The nest is either a small hole with a sparse lining of dry blades of grass, or a relatively large structure made of dry stems and leaves of aquatic plants. Nest dimensions: nest diameter 17-30 cm, sometimes up to 55 cm, tray diameter 10-12 cm, tray depth 3.5 cm. The nest is built by both members of the pair. At the end of May - the first half of June, full clutches can be found. The clutch most often contains 3 olive-green, mottled eggs. Egg dimensions: 39-42 X 29-31 mm. Both parents incubate for 23 days, starting with the laying of the first egg. At the age of 21-24 days, the young rise to the wing and, together with their parents, leave the nesting sites. At the end of July and no later than the beginning of August, adults begin molting and gradually departing. Small gulls feed mainly on insects, which they catch in flight, like swallows, usually hunting over water. Sometimes they collect them from the water or catch small crustaceans in shallow waters. During wintering, small fish occupy a prominent place in the diet.

Lesser gull/ Larus saundersi

Lesser Arctic gull/ Larus glaucoides

Great sea gull/ Larus marinus

The great sea gull is one of the largest gulls, its weight is 1300-2250 g. It is quite heavy in flight, its voice is loud, bassy, ​​although basically similar to the cry of other large gulls. The plumage is white, with the exception of the slate-black back and blackish wings. The tips of the primaries and secondaries have white spots. The sea gull is widespread in the northern part of the Atlantic Ocean from Greenland and Nova Scotia to Labrador in America, Iceland, Scandinavia, Britain, France, and the Baltic Sea. In Russia it is found on the Murmansk coast and adjacent islands, on Kain, east to Vaygach and, perhaps, to the Pechora delta.

Great sea gull

From the northern parts of its range it flies south for the winter, reaching the Mediterranean Sea. In the southern parts it makes only minor migrations. The species described is a purely seabird. Inhabits rocky sea coasts and only occasionally lake shores. Outside the breeding season, it stays at sea near the coasts, and occasionally flies to fresh inland bodies of water. The great sea gull arrives at the nesting grounds relatively early: in the Baltic Sea in March, in the north in April. Appears in pairs, which seem to be constant for her. It usually nests in colonies of several dozen pairs. Sexual maturity occurs in the third year of life. At the beginning of May, mating displays are observed and soon the construction of nests is observed. The latter are located on rocks or a flat bank, often in tall grass. They are built from twigs, grass, algae, usually lined with feathers, sometimes lined at the edges with pebbles, fragments of shells, etc. Nest dimensions: nest diameter 60-70 cm, nest height 15-20 cm, tray diameter 20-25 cm. Eggs number 2-5, most often 3, and are laid in May - June. Their color ranges from grayish-ocher to olive-brown with dark spots. Egg dimensions: 67-83 x 50-56 mm. Both parents incubate for 26-30 days, starting with the laying of the first egg. Therefore, the chicks do not hatch at the same time. The appearance of chicks on the Murmansk coast occurs in the second half of June and early July. Both parents feed them starting from the second or third day after hatching. They are fed with semi-digested burps, which are placed in front of the chick. Chicks develop relatively slowly. At the age of a week they develop stumps, and at the age of 25 days they develop a feather plume, in which only remnants of fluff are preserved. The chicks fly on the wing at the age of about 45 days, but begin to fly well only at about two months of age. But even after this, the broods stay together until they depart or migrate. The entire breeding period on the Murmansk coast takes about three months in general: from mid-May to mid-August. Autumn migration in the northern parts of the range occurs in the second half of August - September, in the southern parts - in November. Full, postnuptial molt begins in June and ends in September. The great sea gull is an omnivorous bird with a strong predilection for predation. It feeds on fish, including quite large ones, eggs, chicks and adult birds, especially those living in bird colonies (guillemots, kittiwakes, etc.). It also eats lemmings, carrion and all kinds of garbage, aquatic crustaceans, sea urchins and, finally, berries. The seagull itself is reluctant to catch fish, but usually collects it at fishing grounds. Fish, chicks and seabird eggs serve as the main food for the chicks. During nesting time it feeds in coastal strip sea ​​and on the shores, the rest of the time - at sea.

Pacific sea gull/ Larus schistisagus

Relict seagull/Larus relictus

In these two colonies, the number of nesting birds in different years ranges from several dozen to 300 pairs. Often nests are destroyed during storms, or birds suddenly abandon them for unknown reasons. In some years, gulls do not nest at all. It is believed that there are only 600-800 pairs of relict gulls in the world. Perhaps this species also nests somewhere along the lakes in Western China. It is unknown where it spends the winter. In their winter plumage, these gulls are very easily confused with related species. The nests of relict gulls are very simple. Eggs are laid in early to mid-May. The color of the eggs is unusual for gulls - whitish-olive-clay with dark and light spots. Incubation lasts 24-26 days. The chicks are covered with white down. The relict gull is one of the rare birds in the world. Listed in the Red Books International Union nature conservation, Russia and many other countries. It is strictly forbidden to shoot or collect it, and the transportation of any materials from country to country is limited.

Herring gull/ Larus argentatus

The Herring Gull is one of our larger gulls. In size it is slightly inferior only to the great sea gull, glaucous gull and black-headed gull. Weighs from 700 to 1800 g. Like other gulls, it is associated with bodies of water. Swims well, only submerging slightly in the water. In exceptional cases, dives. The flight is light, usually measured, with rare wing beats, but when chasing prey, taking prey from other birds and fighting, it can be very maneuverable.Sometimes it soars, and for quite a long time, using air currents. It moves easily on the ground, holding its body almost horizontally, and runs quickly if necessary. It screams in different ways: most often, throwing back its head, the bird makes a loud laughing sound, for which in some places it is called the laughing one.

Herring gull

A strong, brave, aggressive seagull with pronounced predatory habits. Like its close relatives, its plumage is white, with the exception of its bluish-gray back and wings; the ends of the latter are black, with white apical and preapical spots. The herring gull is very widespread: in the northern and temperate latitudes of the eastern and western hemispheres. Breeds in Europe and Asia from the coasts and islands of the Arctic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea, Asia Minor, Transcaucasia, Iran, Central Asia, Xinjiang, Mongolia, as well as on the Azores, Canary Islands and Madeira Islands; in America - from the islands of the Arctic Ocean south to the northern parts of British Columbia and from here to the Great Lakes region. In the southern parts of the range it lives as a sedentary or makes small migrations, in the northern parts it is migratory. Winters along the shores of the Baltic and North Seas, off the coast of Great Britain, on the Mediterranean, Black, Caspian Seas and further south to the northern regions of Africa, India and Indochina; in America - to Mexico, Florida and the Antilles. It settles along large rivers, especially in their lower reaches, sea and ocean coasts, in fresh and salt lakes, often fish lakes, but often at a distance of several tens of kilometers from the latter. Migratory birds winter on sea coasts. Herring gulls arrive at their nesting sites early, before the water bodies open, when the first thawed patches appear. In the south of our country this is observed in March, in the north - in May. Soon after arrival they begin building nests. They nest colonially and rarely in solitary pairs. The number of colonies is very diverse, from several pairs to several hundred pairs. It is characteristic that, unlike many other truly colonial birds, their nests are located at some distance from each other, usually at a distance of 3-5 meters or more. Both the male and the female take part in the construction of a new nest or repair of an old one. This entire process takes approximately three days. Depending on the geographic location of the area, egg laying occurs from late April to early June. A complete clutch contains from 1 to 4, more often 3, brown, brownish-olive, and sometimes blue color with dark streaks and spots condensing at the blunt end. Egg dimensions: 65-81 x 41-54 mm. Eggs are laid at intervals of 1-2, less often 3 days. Incubation, in which both members of the pair take part, begins with the laying of the first egg and lasts 26-29 days. During all this time, the nest does not remain empty for a minute, probably due to fear of neighbors. Incubating birds replace each other several times a day. During incubation, the bird turns the eggs over with a peculiar movement of its legs and body, without resorting to the help of its beak. The chicks hatch helpless, do not feed and lie motionless in the nest, but already on the second day, when danger appears, they leave the nest and hide nearby in the grass. Normally, they leave nests at the age of 3-4 days and stay close to them in broods. When in danger, they run to the water and swim away. Already from the second day of life, the chicks demand food from their parents. The latter feed them with regurgitated food, which the adult bird holds in its beak, and the chick tears off small pieces and swallows them. Parents carefully guard the nest and, nevertheless, there are cases when neighboring birds eat the chicks. For about 10 days, the chicks stay on land, and then gradually move to the water, where they spend most of the day. At the age of about one and a half months, they reach the weight of adults and begin to fly a little. In July - August, the young become flightable. For a week and a half after this, they continue to keep their broods, but then move on to independent life, gathering for the night in large groups. At this time, their migrations begin, which gradually lengthen. In autumn, young gulls can be found hundreds of kilometers from their nesting site. Soon the flight of birds begins, which in different parts of the range falls mainly in September - October. Full, postnuptial molt begins in June and ends by October. The herring gull is an omnivorous bird. It feeds on fish, mollusks, crabs, echinoderms, small rodents, eggs and chicks of various birds, insects, fishery waste, carrion, and various berries. Settling close to fish hatcheries, on the outskirts of bird colonies, and in hunting grounds, it can cause some harm. Extermination of mouse-like rodents and harmful insects brings great benefits.

Grey-winged gull/ Larus glaucescens

Seagull / Larus canus

In addition, isolated nesting has been noted for the mountain lakes of Transcaucasia and adjacent parts of Turkey and Iran. Migratory and nomadic bird. The main wintering grounds are located on the coast of the Caspian and Mediterranean seas, in Asia Minor, China and Japan, in America - up to southern California. Inhabits large rivers and lakes, even swamps, as well as sea coasts. In spring, glaucous gulls fly to the southern parts of their range and to the Murmansk coast in March and April, and to the lower reaches of northern rivers in May and early June. They usually fly in small flocks of 3-8 to 30-50 birds. They nest both in individual pairs and in colonies of 6-8 to 70 pairs. They often live together with gulls, black terns, and sometimes with little gulls. Nests are made on rocks, islands, river spits, usually on elevations, hummocks in the water, driftwood deposits, on reed rafts, etc. Full clutches, usually of 3 eggs, occur in June. The eggs are olive-gray with blackish spots. Egg dimensions: 51-61 X 38-43 mm. They are laid with an interval of 1-2 days. Both parents incubate for 25-26 days. Chicks hatch on the Murmansk coast in the second half of June - early July, in Kazakhstan - in May - early June. The hatched chicks remain in the nest for 3-5 days and then stay nearby. They are very mobile, they flee from danger, hide in the grass or run to the water and swim away. The parents are very attached to the chicks and vigorously protect them. At about a month of age, the chicks put on a feather outfit and soon begin to fly. The development of the chick from the beginning of incubation of the egg to the rise to the wing takes 57 - 60 days. In colonies of common gulls, there is a fairly high mortality rate of eggs and chicks, mainly from various predators. In August, flying young, together with adults, group into flocks and begin to lead a nomadic lifestyle. Gradually, these migrations turn into departure, which occurs in September and October. The glaucous gull feeds on a variety of foods - fish, various aquatic invertebrates, terrestrial insects, mouse-like rodents, berries. The extermination of harmful insects and rodents brings undoubted benefits.

Mediterranean gull/Larus melanocephalus

The Mediterranean gull is generally similar to the common gull, but is somewhat larger, with a noticeably stronger beak. In addition, in breeding plumage the head is not dark brown, but shiny black. The color of the flight feathers is also different - in adults the primary flight feathers are white, without dark apices. It is found in the Eastern Mediterranean from Greece and Dobruja to the northern coast of the Black Sea and Asia Minor. Migratory bird. Winters in the Black, Azov and Mediterranean seas, as well as in Western Asia. It nests in colonies along the shores of salt and fresh water bodies, near the sea and on sea coasts. In winter it stays in coastal areas of the sea.Black-headed gulls feed on both small fish and marine invertebrates, and terrestrial insects, which they catch in arable lands and in the steppe, flying to feed at a distance of up to 70-80 km from their nests. The destruction of insects harmful to agriculture brings great benefits.

Mediterranean gull

Slender-billed gull/Larus genei

In the countries of the former USSR, it inhabits the coasts of the Black, Azov, and Caspian seas and some lakes of Kazakhstan. Partly sedentary, partly migratory and nomadic bird. Winters in North-West Africa, the Mediterranean, onMekran coast and South Caspian Sea. Breeds mainly on sea coasts and on large salt and brackish lakesinside the mainland.It settles in colonies, sometimes with many hundreds of individuals together, nesting exclusively on islands and less often on marshy coasts. The slender-billed gull feeds mainly on small fish and various invertebrates, both aquatic and terrestrial. During the nesting period, it catches various land insects in significant quantities, mainly locusts, after which it flies far into the steppe.

The sea gull is a bird of the gull family, which forms a separate species within it. It differs from all representatives of its family in that it has the largest size.

These birds live in the North Atlantic to the south of Greenland and in central Europe. They prefer a sedentary lifestyle. Some representatives of this species are winter period migrate to areas with a warmer climate, but located near the ocean coast. There, on large reservoirs and lakes, sea gulls spend the winter. The sea gull can survive the winter well by feeding on garbage dumps in cities and towns located on the coast.

Appearance and lifespan

The sea gull has a body length of 70 to 79 cm. The weight of the bird is from 1.3 to 2 kg, the wingspan is approximately 170 cm. Some large individuals can weigh up to 2.5 kg.

Plumage of this species of gulls white, outer side wings are black. There is a red spot at the tip of the large yellow beak, and the bird's legs are pale pink. The mature chicks have brown plumage with brown spots, which changes to white after four years. The sea gull's flight speed reaches 110 km/h. This type of seagull has no natural enemies. Life expectancy in the wild is 22-25 years; in rare cases, a bird can live up to 27 years.

Sea gull feeding

We can say that the sea gull is omnivorous, although the basis of its diet is fish. An adult needs 500 grams of food per day. In addition to fish, the seagull feeds on small birds, rodents and, in general, any animals that are smaller in size than it. The seagull, due to its hunting habits, is a bird of prey that attacks any living creature. Having grabbed the victim with its paws, the seagull kills it with a blow from its strong and powerful beak. Another method inherent in the sea gull is to lift prey to a height and drop it onto rocks, and then, on the ground, tear it apart with its strong beak.

Sea gulls feed on a variety of animals, including land animals.

Sea gulls are robbers and do not hesitate to take prey from other representatives of birds. They rob and destroy the nests of other birds - herring gulls, guillemots, ducks, terns. They can also eat insects, but their share in the total diet of these gulls is quite small. A lot of sea gulls flock to city dumps, where they organize noisy markets. Sea gulls not only manage garbage dumps, but also hunt there for rats, mice, etc. By eating rodents, these birds bring benefits to humans, however, they also cause harm by scattering and taking garbage far from containers.

Reproduction

Sea gulls are rodent destroyers.

During the breeding season, which lasts from April to July, the sea gull nests on the coastal slopes of cliffs. It makes a nest from twigs and grass, which is 70-80 cm in diameter.

Listen to the voice of a sea gull

These birds prefer to nest in small groups, placing nests at a significant distance from each other. The clutch usually contains 2-3 large eggs, which are incubated by both parents throughout the incubation period, which lasts 27-29 days. The hatched chicks remain in the nest for approximately 50 days. Having got out of the nest, they begin to fly and reach sexual maturity along with the change of children's plumage, that is, at the age of 4-5 years.

Enemies of the sea gull

In their natural habitat, adult sea gulls have no enemies. But the chicks of this bird are vulnerable. They are hunted by large birds -

Seagulls are a numerous genus of birds that live both in the vast seas and oceans, and in inland waters. Very often, seagulls choose places of residence close to humans.

The gull genus includes many species, for which some common characteristic external features can be identified. As a rule, these are large or medium-sized birds, their plumage is usually white or gray, often decorated with black markings on the head or on the wings. One of the distinctive features is the strong beak of gulls, slightly curved at the tip, as well as developed swimming membranes on the paws.

What does it eat?

Seagulls eat a wide variety of foods; if necessary, they can easily switch from one type of diet to another.

In coastal regions, gulls hunt and catch fish, crustaceans, mollusks, echinoderms, and aquatic worms in the sea. In search of prey, they first look for it near the surface of the water, without diving completely, but only lowering their head or part of their body into the water. Occasionally, birds may circle above the water in search of food.

If the prey of a seagull is an animal covered with a shell or shell (a mollusk or crustacean), then the bird lifts it into the air and throws it onto the stones from a great height to break the hard shell.

Seagulls also readily feed on waste near fishing vessels and enterprises that process seafood products.

On land, gulls consume both plant and animal food (rodents, lizards, chicks and eggs of other bird species, insects and their larvae, berries, grain). They can eat carrion and food waste.

In addition, gulls can destroy other people's nests and take prey from other bird species, for example, terns, cormorants, skuas, puffins, and ducks.

Where do they live?

The habitat of gulls is exceptionally wide. These birds live on all coasts of oceans and seas, both in northern and tropical regions.

Types of seagulls

A large bird with a body length from 54 to 60 cm, a wingspan of 123-148 cm, weighing from 720 to 1500 g. In breeding plumage, the head and neck are pure white; in winter, dark streaks appear on them. The belly and tail are white. The body and wings above are bluish-gray. The beak is straight, flattened on the sides, with a downward curved tip, greenish or yellow color, with a red spot on the mandible. The iris is light yellow or silver-gray. The paws are reddish-pink.

Young birds have noticeably variegated plumage: the feathers on the forehead, chin and sides of their head are dirty white with longitudinal brown stripes and spots. The body is brown on top, with whitish or ocher edges.

The herring gull lives in the northern hemisphere, both in the north and in the tropics. In Europe, the northern borders reach the Scandinavian Peninsula, in Asia - the coast of the Arctic Ocean east of Taimyr, in America - to Baffin Island and the polar regions of Canada and Alaska. In the south, birds nest all the way to the Atlantic coast of France, in America - south of the Great Lakes. Northern populations are migratory and migrate to the southern regions in winter.

The habitats of the herring gull are various bodies of water. Birds inhabit the shores of seas, lakes, rivers, reservoirs, and swamps. They often nest on islands where there are no predators. Since the end of the 20th century, the herring gull began to appear in large cities, where it makes nests on the roofs of buildings.

Medium sized bird. The plumage on the head, belly and sides is white, the back and wings are gray. There is a black stripe on the tail, the beak is black with a yellow stripe and a red spot at the tip. Paws are yellow. The young are dark brown.

The species is distributed in eastern Asia, China, Taiwan, Japan and Korea. Also found in Alaska and North America.

Body length up to 45 cm. Weight from 360 to 400 g. Adult birds are feathered in lead-gray color, the back is always darker than the belly. In breeding plumage the head is light gray, in winter it is dark gray. The beak and legs are black, the iris is brown. The wings are dark gray. The tail has a black stripe with a white border.

The species nests in South America, Chile and Peru. Also found on the Pacific coast.

A slender, medium-sized bird. Its body length is up to 43 cm, its wingspan is from 100 to 110 cm. In breeding plumage, the head and neck are painted black, with a wide white stripe above and below the eyes. The chest and shoulders are light gray, the back is slightly darker, the rest of the body and tail are white. The wings are grayish at the base, then black. The beak is thin, long, with a red base and a black tip. The iris is dark, the paws are greenish-yellow.

The bird lives on the coast of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Occasionally found in Turkey, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Iran.

Outwardly it resembles a kittiwake, its body length is up to 43 cm, its wingspan is about 120 cm. Weight is from 300 to 550 g. The plumage is white, the wings are gray on top. The tips of the wings are black and white, the legs and beak are yellow-green. The lifespan of the common gull reaches 25 years.

The species is distributed in Eurasia and North America. Some populations migrate to the Mediterranean Sea or northern Africa in winter.

Body length is up to 51 cm. The wingspan is 115-140 cm. Weight is from 500 to 600 g. The species is rare, found in Greece, Cyprus, Spain, Algeria, Italy and Corsica. The largest colony is located in northeastern Morocco, containing two-thirds of the entire population.

The bird's body length is from 41 to 49 cm, its wingspan is from 112 to 124 cm. The gull is slender, with a large head. The wings are long and thin, sharp at the ends. The tail is straight and short. The beak is short, thin, the tip is curved like a hook.

The plumage on the back and wings is light gray. The tops of the flight feathers are black. All other plumage is white. The paws and iris are yellow. There is a patch of bare red skin around the eyes. In breeding plumage, the head becomes white, and a black transverse stripe appears in front of the top of the beak.

The Delaware gull is a resident of North America, where it breeds from southern Canada to the middle of the United States. In winter it flies south.

Externally, the bird is very similar to the herring gull, from which it differs in a small yellow beak with a black ring, yellow legs and a rounder head. The body plumage is white, except for the gray back and upper part of the wings. Young birds are feathered brown.

The species is distributed in North America, from Canada to eastern California and Colorado. For the winter it migrates to the Pacific coast.

The largest species of gulls with a body length of up to 75 cm and a weight of up to 2 kg, its wingspan is about 170 cm. The upper side of the wings is painted black, the rest of the plumage is white. The beak is large, yellow with a red tip. Legs pale pink. Young birds are brown feathered until the age of 4 years.

Habitat: the coasts of the North Atlantic Ocean and Central Europe. In winter, individual populations migrate to the southern regions.

Body length is up to 58 cm, wingspan is 125 cm. The plumage on the head, neck, belly and tail is white, the back is black. The beak is yellow with a red spot. Legs yellow or greenish.

The species lives on the coasts of South America and South Africa, as well as in New Zealand and the subantarctic islands in the southern oceanic belt.

A large bird with a body length of 50 to 68 cm, a wingspan of 120-150 cm, and a weight of 850 to 1700 g. The head, neck, chest and belly and tail of the bird are white, the wings and back of the body are pearl-gray. The young are brown or gray with a black beak.

The gray-winged gull is distributed in western Alaska up to the coast of Washington state.

Body length is from 53 to 56 cm, wingspan up to 137 cm. The head, neck, tummy and tail are white; in winter, gray stripes appear in the head and neck area. The back is gray, the wings are decorated with black feathers. The beak is yellow with a red spot. Paws are pink. The young are brownish-gray in color with white streaks on the back. The wings and tail are black, the legs are brown.

The species lives along the west coast of North America.

Body length is from 53 to 58 cm. The plumage on the back and wings is gray to black. The head is white. Paws are yellow. The beak is large and yellow.

The species is distributed in northwestern Mexico and California.

Body length is from 50 to 66 cm, wingspan is 115-140 cm. Weight is from 820 to 1100 g. The plumage of the bird is light gray, the beak is yellowish-green. Young birds are lighter than adults. The tail is slightly darker than the entire plumage. The beak is thin.

Lives in the Arctic regions of Canada and Greenland. Winters in the north Atlantic Ocean to the British Isles, as well as off the northeastern coast of the United States.

Body length from 55 to 65 cm. Wingspan from 142 to 152 cm. Weight 700-1100 g. In breeding plumage it looks like a herring gull. The beak is yellow with a red spot on top. The rainbow is dark. Paws are reddish. There is a red ring around the eyes. The wings are gray with black and white feathers. In winter attire, the head is streaked with dark brown.

The species lives on the western coast of Hudson Bay and the Arctic islands of Canada. In winter it migrates to the west coast of North America.

The bird's body length is from 52 to 58 cm, its wingspan is from 120 to 140 cm. Adult birds have a white head, neck, back of the head, tummy and tail. The back is light gray. The beak and irises are yellow, there is a red ring around the eyes. Paws are yellow. Young birds have gray-brown plumage.

Mediterranean gull lives along the coast Iberian Peninsula and the Bay of Biscay. It is also found in the Mediterranean basin up to the Black Sea.

A large slender bird with a small head, sloping forehead, long and thin beak, and long legs. Body length from 54 to 66 cm, wingspan 130-158 cm, weight from 700 to 1200 g.

The species is distributed in Russia and Ukraine near the Black and Caspian Seas, as well as in Kazakhstan, Hungary, Belarus and Poland.

In appearance, it resembles a yellow-legged gull, but it is smaller in size, with a dark gray back and a dark iris. The wings have wide black stripes with white spots. The beak is short, with black stripes at the end. The young are brown.

Habitat: Armenia, Georgia, Türkiye and western Iran. The bird winters on the coasts of Turkey, Lebanon and Israel.

Large bird. The plumage on the body is white, the head is black, the back and wings are ashen. The beak is orange with a black stripe at the end.

Distributed in Crimea, on the Sea of ​​Azov, off the coast of the Caspian Sea and in the east of the Mediterranean Sea.

A small seagull. The head of adults is pale brown, the back is pale gray, and the beak and paws are red. The brown “hood” disappears in winter.

The species nests in lakes of Central Asia from Tajikistan to Mongolia and China. The bird is migratory and winters in South Asia.

The bird's body length is up to 42 cm. In summer, adults have a light gray head and gray body. The belly is dark gray to black.

Habitat: South America and Africa to the south of the Sahara. In winter, the bird flies to Spain and North America.

Outwardly, it is very similar to the grey-headed gull, but is slightly smaller in size. Body length is from 36 to 38 cm. The beak is thin and dark, the eyes are dark. The legs are colored dark red. The head is light gray, and during the nesting period it is white.

Hartlaub's gull lives on the Atlantic coast of South Africa and Namibia.

The bird's body length is from 36 to 44 cm. Wingspan is 91-96 cm. Weight is 265-315 g. The head, tail and abdomen are white. The back and wing coverts are pale gray. The wings are black with large white spots. The beak and legs are bright red.

The species breeds in Australia, Tasmania and New Caledonia, along the coast, on islands and large lakes.

A medium-sized bird with a white head, body and tail, its wings are light gray. The legs and beak are red.

Distributed in New Zealand. Rarely found in Australia.

A small bird with a round head and a thin beak. Its body length is from 35 to 39 cm, its wingspan is 86-99 cm, and its body weight is from 200 to 350 g.

During the mating season the head dark brown to the back of the head, where the light plumage begins. There is a white rim around the eyes. The back of the head, neck, chest, tummy, tail and rump are white. The wings are gray on top. There is a wide white stripe on the upper front part of the wing, and the rear part is bordered with black - this is a characteristic feature of the plumage. The beak is burgundy, curved down. Brown rainbow. In winter plumage, adult birds have a white head with black-gray spots, a light red beak with a dark tip, and light red legs. Young birds are reddish or gray-brown in the area of ​​the head and upper body.

The bird lives in the Black and Mediterranean Seas.

Body length is from 39 to 47 cm, wingspan is about 97 cm. It looks like a black-headed gull, but its head is dark. The neck, belly and tail are pink, the wings and back are grey. The beak is thin. Legs are red. Young birds have a gray back, white belly, and gray spots on the head and back of the head. The beak is yellow-orange, the paws are yellow.

The species is distributed in the south of the Mediterranean Sea, in the Red Sea, in the Persian Gulf, on the coasts of the Black, Caspian, Aral Seas, in Turkey, and Iran. oicocephalus philadelphia)

Body length from 28 to 30 cm. Wingspan up to 100 cm. Weight 180-230 g. In breeding plumage the head is dark gray or black. The beak is black. There is a noticeable red ring around the eyes, the iris is dark brown. There are white spots above and below the eyes. The back and tail are white, the chest and belly have a pink tint. Paws are red. In winter, there is no cap on the head.

Bonaparte's gull nests in southern Alaska. In winter, the bird migrates to the coast of the United States of America.

A small bird with a strong build and a large, round head. Body length is up to 39 cm, wingspan is about 98 cm. The wings are long and pointed. The beak is short.

In breeding plumage the head is black. The wings are light gray. The rest of the plumage is white. The legs and beak are dark red. The winter outfit does not have a black hood; gray stripes appear on the back of the head.

Inhabitant of Europe and the Mediterranean. Occasionally found in North Africa.

Body length is from 44 to 45 cm. The head and neck are black. There are white spots above and below the eyes. The back is light gray. The belly and tail are white. The wings are light gray with black edges. In winter plumage the head is white. The beak and paws are dark red. Young birds have white head plumage with brown spots.

Colonies of the relict gull live in Kazakhstan, Russia and China.

Most small view with a body length of 24 to 28 cm, a wingspan of 62-69 cm, and a weight of about 100 g. Outwardly similar to the black-headed gull, but differs from it in its completely black head.

During the mating season, the belly, sides, chest, lower part of the neck, undertail and rump are white, sometimes with a pink tint. Head and top part necks are black. The back and wings are light gray. The dark red beak is short and thin. The iris is dark brown. There is a white border around the eyes. Legs pink, short. In winter plumage, the head is white, with dark gray spots in the crown, on the back of the head and behind the eyes.

Distributed in Eurasia.

Male and female: main differences

All gull species are not characterized by sexual dimorphism. Externally, males and females do not differ.

Reproduction

Most seagulls are monogamous birds. Birds arrive at their nesting sites in the spring. And they begin to conduct their mating games, during which they shout loudly, throw back or bow their heads, bend over, and feed each other.

Gulls nest in colonies, which consist of several tens or thousands of pairs, sometimes they can nest in one pair at a time. Birds often occupy their old nests or build new ones.

Nests

The gull's nest is located on open places, right on the ground (on a rocky seashore, cliffs, less often in thickets of grass). The distance between nests varies from 1-3 to 25-30 m. Both the male and the female build the nest, using plant material to build it. The inside of the bird's nest is lined with feathers or wool.

Eggs

In one season, the female, as a rule, has one clutch of 2-3 eggs of pale brown or greenish-blue color. Both the male and the female incubate the eggs for 28 to 30 days in turn. Newborn chicks are covered with brownish-gray down with dark spots. The first days they are helpless, but they quickly learn to rise to their feet, and after 3-4 days they leave the nest. The chicks begin to fly 38-45 days after birth, but for another month or a month and a half they depend on the parents who feed them. Young birds reach sexual maturity at 5-6 years of age.

Interesting facts about the bird

• Seagulls can steal prey and eat the eggs of other birds. They even attack the chicks of other gulls.
• The smallest representative of the family is the small gull, whose weight is only 100-150 g, and the largest sea gull reaches a mass of 2 kg.
• Seagulls lead a colonial lifestyle. In their large colonies, the voices of birds are constantly heard, which resemble laughter, clucking, or even the screams of an angry cat.
• Hitchcock, in his film The Birds, depicted American herring gulls as winged pursuers of people. And this is not fiction. As a result of attacks by herring gulls on people who accidentally entered the territory of their colonies, the latter received head injuries, which even led to death.
• In former times, sailors determined the future weather by the behavior of seagulls: if seagulls sat on the masts of a ship or on the water, then this foreshadowed good weather, and if they wandered along the shallows or coastal rocks and screamed shrilly, it meant that a storm was approaching.