Gull look-alikes

Key differences

Kittiwakes are smaller, more pelagic gulls with entirely black wingtips (no white mirrors), shorter legs, and a more graceful, tern-like flight. They typically nest on narrow cliff ledges.

Key differences

Terns are generally more slender, with pointed wings, forked tails, and typically dive headfirst for fish. Their flight is more buoyant and agile. Gulls are heavier-bodied, with broader wings and a more direct flight.

Key differences

Skuas/Jaegers are predatory seabirds, often dark-plumaged, with a more aggressive flight and often a pointed central tail feather. They frequently harass other seabirds to steal food (kleptoparasitism). Gulls are generally less predatory and lack the pointed central tail feathers.