California GullCalifornia Gull -- South Dakota Birds
| Length: 22 inches | Wingspan: 48 inches | Seasonality: Summer/Migrant |
| ID Keys: Dark eyes, black and red spots on bill tip, greenish-yellow legs, gray back and upper wings, white underparts, white head and neck. Compare to very similar Ring-Billed Gull and Herring Gull. | ||
California Gull
Larus californicus
A widespread gull of the western half of the United States, spending its summers in the interior and its winters along the Pacific Coast. The California Gull is what inspired the seagull monument in Salt Lake City, as it was the species that saved crops from the 1848 grasshopper plague. It is very similar to the Ring-Billed Gull and Herring Gull, and is intermediate in size between the two.
Habitat: Summers near large freshwater lakes and reservoirs. Often forages in dryland fields and farms for insects. Winters primarily along coastlines, especially near beaches and garbage dumps.
Diet: Wide variety of items, including insects, fish, eggs and young birds, small mammals, earthworms, crustaceans, small lizards, frogs, carrion, and refuse.
Nesting: June and July
Breeding Map: Breeding Bird Survey map
Song: California Gull Song
Migrations: Summers near in the interior west of the United States and Canada. Winters along the Pacific coast and selected locations in the far West.
Similar Species: Ring-Billed Gull, Herring Gull, Mew Gull. See Identification Tips.
Status: Has increased numbers and range in recent decades.
Further Information: 1) USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter, California Gull
2) Cornell University's "All About Birds - California Gull"
3) E-nature.com: California Gull
Photo Information: July 18th, 2004 -- Below Oahe Dam -- Terry Sohl
Additional Photos: Click on the image chips or text links below for additional, higher-resolution California Gull photos.
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Please mail any comments/suggestions/additional links for this page to: Terry L. Sohl
This page was last edited on 02/03/08
