Laughing Gull

by Elizabeth Winter

Title

Laughing Gull

Artist

Elizabeth Winter

Medium

Photograph - Photography

Description

Laughing Gull: This medium-sized gull has a gray back, white underparts and neck, a black hood and red bill. The wings are gray and white-edged, and black at the tips; tail is white. The legs and feet are black. Diet includes insects, fish, shellfish and crabs. It has a slow flight with deep wing beats and soars on updrafts. It is named for its laughter-like call. Sexes are similar.

Range and Habitat
Laughing Gull: Lives mainly on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the U.S., ranging from Maine down through Florida and Texas. Also occurs along the Gulf coast of Mexico, inland southern Mexico, the West Indies, and along the Baja Peninsula. Spends winters regularly north to Virginia, in smaller numbers farther north. Found in salt marshes, lagoons, and coastal beaches.

The Laughing Gull is the largest of the dark-hooded gulls. It is aptly named, as its extended, "ha-ha-ha" call resembles laughter.

Vagrant birds have, on rare occasion, been sighted in western Europe.

A group of gulls has many collective nouns, including a "flotilla", "gullery", "screech", "scavenging", and "squabble" of gulls.

Folklore from Scotland says "Seagull, seagull, sit on the sand; it's a sign of rain when you are at hand." Birds will roost in times of low pressure, which is often indicative of an oncoming storm.

Uploaded

April 25th, 2017

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