Birdsong field guide
Common Gull
Larus canus
A medium-sized, elegant gull characterized by its 'gentle' facial expression, greenish-yellow legs, and lack of a red gonys spot. It is smaller and more refined than the similar Herring Gull.
What it sounds like
A high-pitched, nasal 'kew-kew' or 'meew' that is thinner and more squeaky than the call of a Herring Gull.
Field notes
- The North American population was recently reclassified by the AOS as a distinct species, the Short-billed Gull (Larus brachyrhynchus).
- They frequently practice 'foot-paddling' on grassland to mimic rain, luring earthworms to the surface for easy predation.
- Unlike most large gulls, they occasionally nest in trees, utilizing abandoned nests of other birds or flat conifer branches.
- The species is highly long-lived, with ringing records identifying individuals surviving over 30 years in the wild.
- Its scientific name 'canus' is Latin for 'grey' or 'hoary,' describing the pale coloration of its mantle.
Habitat
Coastal cliffs, estuaries, and marshes, as well as inland lakes, agricultural fields, and urban parks.
Range
Widespread across Northern Europe, Asia, and northwestern North America.
Similar & commonly confused birds
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