What does the Yellow-legged Gull eat?

The Yellow-legged Gull's diet shapes where and when you'll find it. Understanding what it eats helps you predict where to look.

Diet overview

Highly omnivorous and opportunistic. Diet includes fish, crustaceans, mollusks, insects, small mammals, birds, eggs, carrion, offal, refuse, and plant material. They frequently exploit human discarded food sources.

How it forages

Highly opportunistic and adaptable. They scavenge widely, forage on marine creatures along the coast, prey on small vertebrates, and readily exploit anthropogenic food sources from landfills, fishing vessels, and urban refuse. They often drop hard-shelled prey (e.g., mollusks) from height onto rocks to open them.

When it feeds

Primarily diurnal, with peak activity during daylight hours for foraging. They may also forage at night, particularly in areas with artificial lighting or near fishing boats.

Explore the Yellow-legged Gull