Western Gull
Larus occidentalis
Aves
COMMON
Stats
- Lifespan
- 15-25 yrs
- Size
- Large
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Activity
- Diurnal
- Social
- Colony
- Biome
- Temperate coast
- Range
- North America
- Movement
- Flight
- Breeding
- Egg-laying
- Defense
- Flight
- Status
- Common
About
The Western Gull is a large, heavy-bodied seagull native to the Pacific Coast of North America, easily recognised by its slate-grey back, bright yellow bill with a red spot, and pink legs. It is the only gull that breeds exclusively along the western coast of North America, nesting in dense colonies on rocky offshore islands.
Life cycle
- 1.eggA clutch of eggs is incubated in the nest, kept warm by a brooding parent until the chicks pip free.
- 2.hatchlingA naked or downy hatchling is fed in the nest by its parents.
- 3.juvenileA feathered juvenile fledges from the nest and learns to fly and forage.
- 4.adultFully grown with adult plumage.
Learn more
Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Family
- Laridae
- Genus
- Larus
- Species
- Larus occidentalis