Laughing Gull

About

The Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla) is a medium-sized gull found in the Americas. It is easily recognized by its distinctive 'laughing' call, dark hood in breeding plumage, and relatively small size compared to many other gulls. It is primarily a coastal species, often seen foraging along beaches, estuaries, and near human activity.

Size & lifespan

Length

36-41 cm (14-16 in)

Wingspan

98-110 cm (39-43 in)

Weight

200-350 g (7.1-12.3 oz)

Lifespan

Up to 20 years in the wild, typically 10-15 years.

Diet

Omnivore, primarily opportunistic feeders. Diet includes fish, crustaceans, insects, marine worms, carrion, eggs and chicks of other birds, and human refuse.

Physical characteristics

Plumage

Adult breeding plumage features a black head, white crescent above and below the eye, dark gray back and upperwings, white underparts, and black wingtips without white mirrors. Non-breeding adults have a streaky gray head, lacking the full black hood. Juveniles are mottled brown and gray, gradually acquiring adult plumage over two to three years.

Beak shape

Medium-sized, relatively slender bill, slightly decurved. Reddish-black in breeding adults, black in non-breeding adults and juveniles.

Eye color

Dark brown with a white crescent above and below the eye in breeding plumage.

Leg color

Dark reddish-black in breeding adults, black in non-breeding adults and juveniles.

Distinguishing features

Black head (breeding), dark gray back, black wingtips without white mirrors, reddish bill and legs (breeding), and its characteristic 'laughing' call.

Juvenile appearance

First-year birds are largely dusky brown on the head, neck, and upperparts, with a dark tail band and dark bill and legs. Second-year birds show a mix of juvenile and adult plumage, with a partial hood and paler body plumage.

Seasonal changes

Adults undergo a significant plumage change between breeding and non-breeding seasons. The distinctive black hood of the breeding season is replaced by a streaky gray and white head in non-breeding plumage. Bill and leg color also dulls from reddish-black to black.

Sexual dimorphism

Males and females are generally monomorphic in plumage and size, though males may be slightly larger on average.

How to identify

1. 1

   Size and Shape

   Medium-sized gull, smaller than Herring Gulls but larger than Bonaparte's Gulls. Relatively slender build with a medium-length bill.

2. 2

   Breeding Plumage (Adult)

   Look for the distinctive solid black head (hood), dark gray back and upperwings, white underparts, and black wingtips without any white 'mirrors'. Bill and legs are reddish-black.

3. 3

   Non-breeding Plumage (Adult)

   The black hood is replaced by a streaky gray and white head, often with a dark smudge behind the eye. Bill and legs are black.

4. 4

   Juvenile Plumage

   First-year birds are mottled brown and gray overall, with a dark tail band and dark bill and legs. They lack the clean white and gray of adults.

5. 5

   Vocalization

   Listen for its unmistakable, raucous 'ha-ha-ha-HA-ha-ha' call, which sounds like laughter.

6. 6

   Flight

   Observe its buoyant, graceful flight, often gliding low over water or soaring.

Habitat & range

Biomes

Coastal marine, estuarine, and freshwater wetlands.

Geographic range

Breeds along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts of North America, from Nova Scotia south to the Caribbean and northern South America. Winters from the southern United States (North Carolina south) through the Caribbean, Central America, and northern South America.

Elevation range

Primarily sea level to low elevations, rarely found far inland or at high altitudes.

Preferred environments

Beaches, barrier islands, salt marshes, estuaries, mudflats, coastal lagoons, docks, piers, and occasionally agricultural fields or urban areas near water.

Behavior

Activity time

Diurnal, active during daylight hours.

Feeding habits

Highly opportunistic. Forages by walking, wading, swimming, and aerial dipping. Steals food from other birds (kleptoparasitism), scavenges human refuse, catches insects in flight, and probes for invertebrates in mud or sand. Also preys on fish, crabs, and eggs/chicks of other colonial nesting birds.

Social behavior

Highly social, especially during breeding season, forming large, dense colonies. Often forages in flocks and roosts communally.

Flight pattern

Graceful and buoyant flight, often soaring on updrafts or gliding low over water. Strong, direct flight when migrating.

Migration pattern

Migratory, with northern populations moving south for the winter. Southern populations may be resident or undertake shorter migrations. Migrates along coastlines, often in large flocks.

Territoriality

Highly territorial during the breeding season, defending a small area around the nest site within the colony. Less territorial during non-breeding periods.

Breeding & reproduction

Breeding season

Typically April to July, with peak activity in May and June.

Nesting habits

Nests colonially, often in large, dense groups on barrier islands, salt marsh islands, or dredge spoil islands. Nests are typically scrapes on the ground, lined with grass, reeds, and other vegetation, often concealed within dense vegetation.

Clutch size

2-4 eggs, most commonly 3.

Egg description

2-4 eggs, typically 3. Eggs are olive to buff-colored, heavily spotted and blotched with dark brown, black, or purplish markings.

Incubation period

20-23 days, incubated by both parents.

Fledging period

Chicks fledge (become capable of flight) at about 35 days old, but remain dependent on parents for several weeks thereafter.

Parental care

Both parents share incubation duties and care for the chicks, feeding them regurgitated food until they fledge and become independent.

Where to find

Field tips

1. Listen for the call. The 'laughing' call is highly distinctive and often heard before the bird is seen, especially in coastal areas.
2. Look near human activity. Laughing Gulls are often bold and accustomed to humans, frequently found near fishing boats, picnic areas, and boardwalks where food scraps might be available.
3. Observe foraging behavior. Watch for them following fishing boats, snatching food from the surface of the water, or probing in mudflats.
4. Visit coastal colonies during breeding season. During spring and summer, large nesting colonies offer excellent opportunities to observe their social behavior and hear their calls en masse.

Similar species

Quick facts

Distinctive Call:

Known for its unique 'laughing' vocalization.

Breeding Plumage:

Solid black head, dark gray back, reddish bill/legs.

Habitat:

Primarily coastal, estuarine, and salt marsh environments.

Diet:

Opportunistic omnivore, including fish, crustaceans, insects, and carrion.

Social:

Highly colonial, especially during breeding.

Fun facts

• The Laughing Gull's scientific name, Leucophaeus atricilla, means 'white-ashy' (referring to its plumage) and 'black-tailed' (though its tail is mostly white with a dark band in juveniles, and adults have a white tail).
• They are notorious kleptoparasites, often stealing food directly from the bills of other birds, including pelicans and terns.
• Laughing Gulls have shown adaptability to human environments, often congregating in large numbers at landfills and fishing docks.
• During the 19th century, Laughing Gulls were heavily hunted for their feathers to adorn women's hats, leading to significant population declines. Conservation efforts have allowed their populations to recover.

Scientific classification

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Aves

Order

Charadriiformes

Family

Laridae

Genus

Leucophaeus

Species

Leucophaeus atricilla

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