| Article number: | P-2352 |
Gulls, known colloquially as seagulls, belong to the seabird family Laridae. There are 10 genera of gulls, and they are most closely related to the terns (family Sternidae) and only distantly related to auks, skimmers and even more distantly to waders.
Gull have a worldwide cosmopolitan distribution and breed on every continent. Most gull species are migratory, with birds moving to warmer habitats during the winter. They are medium to large birds, usually gray or white, often with black markings on the head or wings.
These birds are highly adaptable feeders that opportunistically take a wide range of prey, including fish, marine and freshwater invertebrates, rodents, amphibians, reptiles and plant materials. They live in colonies, especially during the mating season. Breeding pairs mostly stick to their own territory and defend it against intruders. Gulls are monogamous and mate for life.