A medium-sized (16-17 inches) seagull, the Laughing Gull in summer is most easily identified by its dark gray wings with black tips, black head, dark orange legs, and red bill. In winter, this species loses much of the color on its head and bill, becoming dark-billed with a gray smudge on its crown. Young birds are brownish-gray overall, and are often confused with young gulls of other species. Male and female Laughing Gulls are similar to one another in all seasons. The Laughing Gull breeds along the entire Atlantic coast of the United States, along the Gulf coast from Florida to Texas, and in the West Indies. Populations breeding in the northeast are migratory, wintering further south along the coast of the U.S. or in Mexico, Central America, and South America. Populations breeding in warmer areas are generally non-migratory. Laughing Gulls breed on rocky or sandy islands and beaches by lakes, in marshes, and along the coast. Birds breeding in the tropics may nest on mangrove islands. In general, this species utilizes similar kinds of habitats in winter as in summer. Laughing Gulls eat a variety of foods, including crustaceans, fish, carrion, garbage, and, more rarely, bird eggs. Laughing Gulls are most easily seen foraging for food along sandy beaches. In many coastal areas, this is one of the most common “seagulls,” and may be seen foraging for refuse and carrion on the beach, flying over the water and plunging in to catch fish, or floating on the water’s surface while catching fish with its bill. Laughing Gulls are primarily active during the day.
A medium-sized (16-17 inches) seagull, the Laughing Gull in summer is most easily identified by its dark gray wings with black tips, black head, dark orange legs, and red bill. In winter, this species loses much of the color on its head and bill, becoming dark-billed with a gray smudge on its crown. Young birds are brownish-gray overall, and are often confused with young gulls of other species. Male and female Laughing Gulls are similar to one another in all seasons. The Laughing Gull breeds along the entire Atlantic coast of the United States, along the Gulf coast from Florida to Texas, and in the West Indies. Populations breeding in the northeast are migratory, wintering further south along the coast of the U.S. or in Mexico, Central America, and South America. Populations breeding in warmer areas are generally non-migratory. Laughing Gulls breed on rocky or sandy islands and beaches by lakes, in marshes, and along the coast. Birds breeding in the tropics may nest on mangrove islands. In general, this species utilizes similar kinds of habitats in winter as in summer. Laughing Gulls eat a variety of foods, including crustaceans, fish, carrion, garbage, and, more rarely, bird eggs. Laughing Gulls are most easily seen foraging for food along sandy beaches. In many coastal areas, this is one of the most common “seagulls,” and may be seen foraging for refuse and carrion on the beach, flying over the water and plunging in to catch fish, or floating on the water’s surface while catching fish with its bill. Laughing Gulls are primarily active during the day.
The laughing gull (Leucophaeus atricilla) is a medium-sized gull of North and South America. Named for its laugh-like call, it is an opportunistic omnivore and scavenger. It breeds in large colonies mostly along the Atlantic coast of North America, the Caribbean, and northern South America. The two subspecies are L. a. megalopterus — which can be seen from southeast Canada down to Central America — and L. a. atricilla, which appears from the West Indies to the Venezuelan islands. The laughing gull was long placed in the genus Larus until its present placement in Leucophaeus, which follows the American Ornithologists' Union.
The genus name Leucophaeus is from Ancient Greek λευκός : leukós, "white", and φαιός : phaios, "dusky". The specific atricilla is from Latin atra, "black", " unlucky" or "malevolent" and cilla, "tail".[2]
According to the Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names, Linnaeus may have intended to write atricapilla (black-haired), which would have been more appropriate, as the bird has a black head and white tail.[2]
It breeds on the Atlantic coast of North America, the Caribbean, and northern South America. Northernmost populations migrate farther south in winter, and this species occurs as a rare vagrant to western Europe. The laughing gull's English name is derived from its raucous kee-agh call, which sounds like a high-pitched laugh "ha... ha... ha...".[3]
Laughing gulls breed in coastal marshes and ponds in large colonies. The large nest, made largely from grasses, is constructed on the ground. The three or four greenish eggs are incubated for about three weeks.
This species is 36–41 cm (14–16 in) long with a 98–110 cm (39–43 in) wingspan and a weight range[4] of 203–371 grams (7.2–13.1 oz). The summer adult's body is white apart from the dark grey back and wings and black head. Its wings are much darker grey than all other gulls of similar size except the smaller Franklin's gull, and they have black tips without the white crescent shown by Franklin's. The beak is long and red. The black hood is mostly lost in winter.
Laughing gulls take three years to reach adult plumage. Immature birds are always darker than most similar-sized gulls other than Franklin's. First-year birds are greyer below and have paler heads than first-year Franklin's, and second-years can be distinguished by the wing pattern and structure.
The two subspecies are:[5]
Like most other members of the genus Leucophaeus, the laughing gull was long placed in the genus Larus. The present placement in Leucophaeus follows the American Ornithologists' Union.[6][7]
Egg, Collection Museum Wiesbaden
Mating plumage includes black head and red bill
Definitive alternate plumage
Adult in mid-May (definitive alternate plumage)
Laughing gull, alternate plumage, North Carolina, US, 2016
Adult in winter (definitive basic plumage)
Juvenile
Adult at St. Thomas, Virgin Islands (definitive alternate plumage)
Vagrant in definitive basic plumage in the UK in late 2005
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At Los Roques, Venezuela
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First winter laughing gull in Riverhead, New York
Adult in breeding plumage, American Virgin Islands
Adult in breeding plumage, American Virgin Islands
Preparing to land on beach, American Virgin Islands
Laughing gulls following a shrimp boat off the coast of Jacksonville, Florida
The laughing gull (Leucophaeus atricilla) is a medium-sized gull of North and South America. Named for its laugh-like call, it is an opportunistic omnivore and scavenger. It breeds in large colonies mostly along the Atlantic coast of North America, the Caribbean, and northern South America. The two subspecies are L. a. megalopterus — which can be seen from southeast Canada down to Central America — and L. a. atricilla, which appears from the West Indies to the Venezuelan islands. The laughing gull was long placed in the genus Larus until its present placement in Leucophaeus, which follows the American Ornithologists' Union.
