Seagulls are a familiar sight at the beach, swooping in for a stolen fry or squawking overhead - but there's a lot more to these birds than their reputation for chip-stealing. They're actually one of the most adaptable, intelligent, and long-lived groups of seabirds on the planet.
Here are 20 verified facts about seagulls (properly known as "gulls") that might change how you see them.
"Seagull" isn't an official name - the proper term for these birds is simply "gull." There's no single species called a seagull; the word is a colloquial catch-all for the gulls people commonly see near coasts.
Gulls are found on every continent, including Antarctica, and range from the Arctic to the tropics.
There are roughly 50 to 54 recognized gull species (taxonomists still debate the exact count), and the herring gull is one of the most widespread and familiar.
Gulls are omnivores and opportunistic feeders, eating fish, insects, eggs, small animals, plant matter, and human food scraps.
Most gulls live around 10 to 20 years in the wild, though some individuals - especially herring gulls - have been recorded living past 30, and one wild herring gull reached an astonishing 49 years old.
Gulls can see ultraviolet light, an ability that likely helps them spot fish, food, and each other more effectively than humans can.
Gulls are highly adaptable and readily scavenge in cities and around humans, which is part of why they've thrived even as coastal habitats have changed.
Gulls are considered one of the more intelligent bird groups; they can learn techniques, solve simple problems, and figure out new ways to obtain food.
Gulls are known for their loud, distinctive calls, which they use to communicate, defend territory, and coordinate within colonies.
During breeding season, many gull species nest in large, dense colonies, sometimes numbering in the thousands.
Many gull species are largely monogamous and form long-term pair bonds, with both parents sharing incubation and chick-feeding duties.
Courtship in many gull species includes the male offering food to the female before mating.
Some gulls crack open hard-shelled prey like clams and mussels by dropping them from the air onto rocks or pavement.
Gulls drink both fresh and salt water; special glands near their eyes filter excess salt from their blood, which they then excrete through their nostrils.
Gulls are known kleptoparasites - they'll steal food from other birds, and sometimes from each other, rather than catching every meal themselves.
Gulls have a strong sense of smell for birds and can use it, alongside sharp eyesight, to help locate food from a distance.
Like nearly all birds, gulls have a preen (uropygial) gland near the base of the tail that produces oil they spread on their feathers to waterproof them.
Gulls have webbed feet, which help them swim and paddle on the water's surface, though most species aren't deep divers.
Many gull species migrate seasonally, traveling long distances between breeding grounds and wintering areas in search of food.
Gulls can become aggressive and dive-bomb people who get too close to their nests or chicks, especially during breeding season.
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