How to identify the Laughing Gull

To correctly identify the Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla), check each of these features. Birds can be tricky: habit, habitat, and call often confirm a sighting that a single photo cannot.

Size at a glance

Length

36-41 cm (14-16 in)

Wingspan

98-110 cm (39-43 in)

Weight

200-350 g (7.1-12.3 oz)

Physical features to check

1. 1

   Plumage

   Overall feather coloration and pattern.

   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.

2. 2

   Beak shape

   Shape and color of the bill: a key field mark.

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

3. 3

   Eye color

   Iris color and any distinctive eye markings.

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

4. 4

   Leg color

   Leg and foot color.

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

5. 5

   Distinguishing features

   Standout features that separate this species.

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

6. 6

   Juvenile appearance

   How young birds differ from adults.

   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.

7. 7

   Seasonal changes

   Plumage variation between breeding and non-breeding seasons.

   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.

8. 8

   Sexual dimorphism

   How males and females differ.

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

Key field marks

• Size and Shape. Medium-sized gull, smaller than Herring Gulls but larger than Bonaparte's Gulls. Relatively slender build with a medium-length bill.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Vocalization. Listen for its unmistakable, raucous 'ha-ha-ha-HA-ha-ha' call, which sounds like laughter.
• Flight. Observe its buoyant, graceful flight, often gliding low over water or soaring.

Explore the Laughing Gull