Did you know that seagull is actually an informal term? These popular and common birds are actually seagulls. Seagulls live on all continents, even during the short breeding season. These birds are charming, very smart and learn quickly. Seagulls have been known to mimic rain by stomping on the ground to trick worms into coming out.
Seagulls also mate for life. They are caring parents and take turns looking after their children. Through small openings in the bill, seagulls can drink fresh and salt water. An interesting bird that can withstand many things, including cold weather. So where do they go in winter? How do they survive the cold and harsh weather? Keep reading to find out.
Where do seagulls go when it gets cold?
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Seagulls are sometimes considered annoying and aggressive birds, especially along coasts and beaches, but they are smart and true survivors. During the winter, seagulls migrate to escape the cold. All 54 species of seagulls have unique migratory patterns. For example, Franklin’s gulls migrate all the way from Canada to Argentina. Some species, such as the Belcher Gull, do not migrate in winter. Other gulls, such as the European herring gull, choose to live in houses, but move inland in search of warmth during the winter.
An interesting aspect of these birds is that they make two or three stops as they migrate south. One example is the herring gull. They usually live in Northern and Central Europe, but travel to West Africa, the Mediterranean, Portugal and Spain in September. Seagulls migrate as needed and roost in warmer areas with water sources. However, they can also live in urban areas, especially near lakes, rivers, and ponds.
Do seagulls return to the same place every year?
These migratory birds are easy to track. Seagulls usually return to the same nesting sites in the spring. However, if the nest is disturbed, it will move and find another location. Seagulls are very territorial. It’s easier to go back to the same place. Seagulls carefully choose their nesting sites and will return. Nests are usually safe and next to water sources with abundant food.
Where do seagulls sleep at night?
Seagulls are loud and have many calls and sounds that they use to communicate. It’s very quiet at night and most people barely notice they’re there. Some seagulls sleep near water in large flocks. This is common in large groups of juvenile gull flocks that are cared for by several adults before the young are ready for the breeding season. Other seagulls, those that live inland, work out where to sleep. They roost on rooftops, in dumpsters, and sometimes in backyards and public parks. Seagulls take naps during the day, but sleep for a few hours at dusk or at night. Seagulls sleep with one leg on their belly and the other leg squatting or standing.
What do seagulls eat in winter?
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A seagull’s diet usually consists of fish, rodents, reptiles, and crustaceans. These opportunistic birds are picky. Anyone who has been to the beach on a busy day has likely witnessed these omnivorous birds stealing food from open bags and cups. Almost no change. But inland-migrating birds focus on rodents, human waste, and reptiles rather than fish.
Common foods eaten by seagulls include:
- cod
- tuna
- crab
- small bird
- Apple
- banana
- nuts
- chips
- bread
- whale carcass
- insect
Seagulls are excellent hunters and usually catch their prey in the air. They also know how to open food and how to keep themselves safe. For example, some believe that seagulls eat human food. It also drops mollusks from the air to crack the shells.
How many miles can a seagull fly in a day?
Seagulls are fast-moving birds. They typically fly 100 miles a day between feeding and nesting grounds. This number increases in late autumn and winter, when some species of gulls fly south in search of warmth. It is also fast, capable of reaching speeds of up to 28 mph. Fun fact: the fastest gull in the world is the herring gull, which traveled 520 miles in 7 days. This seagull flew from the Channel Islands to Spain. It’s rare for a black-tailed gull to fly so far in such a short time, so the black-tailed gull must have found a house full of food.