# Seagull (Gull) — Facts, Threats & Conservation

*Family Laridae*

> A seagull is any of around 50 species of gull, seabirds in the family Laridae. Typically white and grey with black wingtips and webbed feet, gulls are adaptable, intelligent coastal birds that scavenge, fish and increasingly thrive in towns and cities worldwide.

**IUCN status:** Varies by species; most Least Concern (IUCN)  ·  **WARN range:** Europe, North America, Asia, Africa, Worldwide coasts

## Quick facts
| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Common name | Seagull (gull) |
| Family | Laridae |
| Number of species | Around 50 living gull species |
| Typical appearance | White and grey plumage, black wingtips, webbed feet, stout bill |
| Diet | Omnivorous and opportunistic: fish, invertebrates, scraps, eggs |
| Habitat | Coasts, lakes, rivers, farmland, towns and cities |
| Largest species | Great black-backed gull, wingspan up to ~1.7 m |
| Lifespan | Larger gulls can live around 30 years in the wild |
| Distribution | Worldwide, on every continent including Antarctica |
| UK status note | Herring gull is red-listed and legally protected |

## Scientific classification
- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Aves
- **Order:** Charadriiformes
- **Family:** Laridae
- **Subfamily:** Larinae (gulls)
- **Species:** ~50 living gull species

## Conservation status
- **Status:** Varies by species. Most gulls are assessed by the IUCN as Least Concern thanks to large ranges and adaptable habits, but conservation status differs from species to species. Several populations are declining: in the UK the herring gull is a bird of conservation concern and is legally protected, and a small number of gull species worldwide are genuinely threatened.
- **Population:** Not meaningful as a single figure across ~50 species; common species number in the millions globally, while some regional populations have fallen sharply.
- **Trend:** Mixed; stable or increasing for many species, but declining for several, including the UK herring gull.
- **Assessed:** Assessed per species on the IUCN Red List; most common species listed as Least Concern.
- **CITES:** Gulls are not generally listed on the CITES appendices.
- Because the family spans roughly 50 species, no single status applies; threats such as habitat loss, reduced food at sea, pollution and disease affect particular species more than others.

## Key facts: Seagull (Gull)
- "Seagull" is a colloquial term; there is no single species, but around 50 gull species in the family Laridae.
- Gulls are highly adaptable and intelligent, exploiting coasts, wetlands, farmland and urban areas alike.
- Most gull species are globally Least Concern, but conservation status varies and several are declining.
- In the UK the herring gull is a bird of conservation concern and is legally protected, despite seeming abundant in towns.
- The great black-backed gull is the world's largest gull, with a wingspan approaching 1.7 metres.
- Many gull problems people notice in cities trace back to habitat loss and changing food supplies at sea.

## Is a seagull a real species?
Strictly speaking, there is no bird called a "seagull." The word is an informal catch-all for gulls, a group of seabirds making up the family Laridae, which contains roughly 50 living species spread across about ten genera. They range from small, delicate birds such as the little gull to the bulky great black-backed gull, the largest of them all. Familiar examples include the herring gull, common gull, black-headed gull, lesser black-backed gull and ring-billed gull. Most gulls share a recognisable look: white and pale-grey plumage, black-marked wingtips, webbed feet and a strong, slightly hooked bill, often with a red spot on the lower mandible in larger species. Young gulls are mottled brown and can take two to four years to gain full adult plumage, which is why many "different" birds on a beach are really the same species at different ages. Calling them all "seagulls" is also slightly misleading, since many species spend much of their lives well inland, on lakes, rivers, farmland and rubbish tips, returning to the coast only to breed or roost.

## Why are gulls so clever and adaptable?
Gulls are widely regarded as among the most intelligent birds. They are opportunistic generalists: they fish, scavenge, follow ploughs for worms, raid other seabirds' nests, drop shellfish onto rocks to crack them, and have learned to paddle their feet on grass to mimic rain and bring earthworms to the surface. In towns they exploit discarded food, open bins and outdoor dining, and individuals can become bold enough to snatch food from the hand. Studies have shown that herring gulls watch human cues and are more likely to peck at food a person has handled or looked at, suggesting they read our behaviour. This flexibility lets gulls thrive in habitats many seabirds cannot. It also explains their move into cities, where flat roofs mimic the cliff ledges they nest on, street lighting extends foraging time, and food is plentiful and predictable. The same adaptability that makes gulls successful, however, can bring them into conflict with people during the breeding season, when adults defend chicks robustly.

## Are seagulls endangered or thriving?
It depends entirely on the species, which is why a single conservation label does not fit. Globally, most gulls are assessed by the IUCN as Least Concern, reflecting large ranges and adaptable habits. Yet that worldwide average can hide sharp regional declines. In the UK, for example, the herring gull, one of the most recognisable "seagulls", is a bird of conservation concern and is legally protected; its breeding population has fallen substantially over recent decades. Drivers include changes in fishing practices and discards, reduced food at sea, disturbance, disease such as avian influenza, and loss of natural nesting habitat, which partly explains the shift to roofs in towns. A handful of gull species worldwide are genuinely threatened. So the honest answer is that gulls as a group are not endangered, but particular species and populations can be vulnerable even while appearing common in everyday life.

## Gull vs tern (both family Laridae)
| Feature | Gull | Tern |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Build | Heavier body, broad wings | Slimmer, longer, more pointed wings |
| Bill | Stout, often slightly hooked | Slender and sharply pointed |
| Tail | Usually squarer | Often deeply forked |
| Feeding | Scavenges and fishes opportunistically | Mostly plunge-dives for fish |
| Flight | Strong, soaring, gliding | Light, buoyant, hovering |

## What WARN does
WARN does not run field projects specifically for gulls, which are widespread and mostly fall outside the five countries where WARN's partners work. This guide is part of WARN's free educational work, helping people understand and value commonly misunderstood wildlife. The threats that affect declining gull populations, such as habitat loss, pollution and pressure on food supplies, are the same pressures facing many of the animals WARN does help protect.

If this guide helped you see the humble seagull a little differently, a small gift helps keep WARN's free wildlife education and frontline animal protection going.

## Frequently asked questions: Seagull (Gull)
### Is a seagull a real bird species?
Not exactly. "Seagull" is a common nickname rather than a scientific species. The birds people mean are gulls, members of the family Laridae, which contains around 50 species worldwide. Familiar ones include the herring gull, black-headed gull and great black-backed gull, each a distinct species with its own size, range and conservation status.

### What is the largest type of gull?
The great black-backed gull (Larus marinus) is the world's largest gull. It can measure roughly 64 to 79 centimetres long with a wingspan approaching 1.7 metres, and a powerful bill it uses to take fish, scraps and even other seabirds. It is noticeably bigger and darker-backed than the more familiar herring gull.

### Are seagulls endangered?
It varies by species. Most gulls are assessed globally as Least Concern by the IUCN, but some populations are declining. In the UK the herring gull is a bird of conservation concern and is legally protected, because its breeding numbers have fallen markedly. So gulls as a group are not endangered, yet particular species can still be vulnerable.

### Why are seagulls moving into towns and cities?
Urban areas suit gulls remarkably well. Flat building roofs resemble the cliff ledges they naturally nest on, street lighting lets them forage for longer, and human food waste is abundant and reliable. Changes and declines in food at sea have also pushed some gulls inland. Their intelligence and flexibility make exploiting towns straightforward for them.

### Are seagulls intelligent?
Yes, gulls are considered among the more intelligent birds. They drop shellfish onto rocks to break them, paddle their feet to imitate rain and lure up worms, and learn to exploit human food sources. Research suggests herring gulls watch people closely and prefer food a human has touched or looked at, hinting they can read our behaviour.

### Is it legal to harm or kill seagulls in the UK?
In the UK all wild birds, including gulls, are protected by law, and several gull species are of conservation concern. It is generally an offence to kill, injure or take them, or to damage active nests and eggs, except under specific licensed circumstances. Problems are better managed by removing food sources and using deterrents than by harming the birds.

## Sources
- [Gull — Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gull)
- [European herring gull — Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_herring_gull)
- [Great black-backed gull — Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_black-backed_gull)
- [Gull — Encyclopaedia Britannica](https://www.britannica.com/animal/gull)
- [Great Black-backed Gull — Cornell Lab, All About Birds](https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Great_Black-backed_Gull/lifehistory)
- [IUCN Red List](https://www.iucnredlist.org/)

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Full guide: https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/seagull