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Henry Sowell

Vol. I · Est. 2026

Pl. LXXXIX
Field-journal plate: Laughing Gull
The Laughing Gull plate as rendered on the e-ink frame
As rendered on the frame

The Birds · Plate LXXXIX

Laughing Gull

Leucophaeus atricilla

Laridae · Taxon 144514

Length39–46 cm (15.3–18.1 in)
Wingspan92–120 cm (36.2–47.2 in)
Weight203–371 g (7.2–13.1 oz)

Field marks

  1. Medium-sized, slender gull with fairly long, pointed wings and long legs
  2. Breeding adult has a crisp black hood with narrow white crescents around the dark eye
  3. Fairly long reddish bill with a subtly drooping tip
  4. Medium-to-dark gray back and upperwings contrasting with white underparts
  5. Black outer primaries and wingtips with little white; tail is white
  6. Nonbreeding adult has a white head with dusky gray smudging behind the eye; legs are dusky red to black

HabitatPrimarily coastal beaches, tidal flats, salt marshes, bays, mangroves, and nearshore waters; also uses piers, fields, and landfills near the coast. Nests colonially on sandy or vegetated islands, beaches, and saltmarshes.

BehaviorA social, opportunistic forager that walks, wades, swims, surface-dips, and sometimes plunges for food; also scavenges and steals catches from other birds. Often gathers in flocks, nests colonially, and gives loud, nasal, laugh-like calls.

Palette

blackwhiteslate graydeep red