Laughing Gull vs American Herring Gull

Laughing Gull

Leucophaeus atricilla

How to recognise a laughing gull?

General appearance

The Laughing Gull is approximately the size of a crow, with a length of 15-17 inches. It exhibits a long, pointed, swept, and tapered wing shape. The back is dark gray, fading into black wingtips. The bird's bill and legs are usually dark, often with a strong red tinge. The tail shape is typically rounded, short, and square-tipped.

Male vs female

The Laughing Gull shows no sexual dimorphism, meaning males and females have similar physical appearances. Both genders sport the same dark gray back fading into black wingtips, along with the dark bill and legs which often come with a red tinge.

Juvenile

Juvenile Laughing Gulls initially present a scaly brown pattern which transitions into a gray back by their first winter. A dark leg color and a particularly shaped bill, along with their relative size to a crow, aids in identifying juveniles of this species. Variations in their coloration and physical attributes become less distinctive as they age into adulthood.

Size

15.4 - 18.1 in/10.6 - 12.3 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

Laughing gulls favor coastal regions, common around beaches, salt marshes, coastal bays, and piers. They can range several miles inland to rivers, fields, and dumps.

Additional range

In addition to coastal areas, laughing gulls are found well inland in Florida and at Salton Sea, California. They nest on beaches and dredge spoil islands among grass and bushes.

Range Map

What do laughing gulls like to eat?

Natural diet

The laughing gull has a diverse diet consisting of crustaceans, insects, and fish, which varies depending on location and season. Common natural food sources include small fish, crustaceans, insects, earthworms, and snails. During late spring, laughing gulls gather to consume the eggs of horseshoe crabs. They also eat eggs and occasionally the young of other birds, particularly Royal Terns.

Bird feeders

Laughing gulls are opportunistic feeders and may consume food scraps or refuse found near human habitation, but they are not common visitors to bird feeders specifically designed for small songbirds.

What does a laughing gull sound like?

The vocalizations of the laughing gull are characterized by loud, high-pitched calls that follow a rhythmic, ha-ha-ha-ha-haah-haah-haah-haah-haah pattern. These calls are usually flat but can undulate, perhaps depending on the situation the bird finds itself in. The sound resonates with a raucous quality, similar to a scream. This description helps define the distinctive and notably loud laughter-like call for which this gull is renowned.

Call

Audio by Joost van Bruggen

/ CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

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American Herring Gull

Larus smithsonianus

Also known as: Smithsonian Gull

How to recognise a American herring gull?

General appearance

The American herring gull is a large gull species, displaying a distinctive silver-gray back and wings with black wingtips adorned with white spots. It features a white head, neck, and underparts, with a robust yellow bill marked by a red spot on the lower mandible. Its legs are generally pink, contributing to its recognizable silhouette.

Male vs female

There is minimal sexual dimorphism in American herring gulls. Males are slightly larger compared to females, although both sexes share similar plumage, making it challenging to differentiate them based solely on appearance without measuring body size.

Juvenile

Juvenile herring gulls differ significantly from adults, exhibiting mottled brown plumage with heavily streaked heads and bodies. They have dark bills and eyes, and their legs may appear more on the brownish side. Over the course of four years, they progressively attain adult plumage, with gradual changes in coloration.

Size

20.9 - 25.6 in/21.2 - 58.2 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

The American Herring Gull typically occupies coastal shorelines, beaches, and refuse dumps. Large open spaces near water are commonly used as winter hangouts.

Additional range

Their range covers the north Atlantic Coast, the Great Lakes, and the southern Alaskan coast. Elsewhere, mainly nonbreeding adults and immature gulls are found.

Range Map

What do American herring gulls like to eat?

Natural diet

American Herring Gulls are versatile and opportunistic feeders with diverse natural diets. They prey on marine invertebrates, including mussels, crabs, sea urchins, and crayfish along rocky shores. On mudflats, they consume worms, small clams, and mussels. In open water, they follow large predators and fishing boats to scavenge small fish, squid, and zooplankton. On land, especially in newly plowed fields, they eat earthworms and other invertebrates. Additionally, they are known to prey on insects, smaller seabirds, and even the adults, young, and eggs of other gulls. Gulls also scavenge on fish, carrion, and human trash. Individual gulls often specialize in a specific type of food.

Bird feeders

American Herring Gulls typically do not visit bird feeders as their natural food sources are varied and abundant in their native habitats. Their diet primarily consists of marine invertebrates and food obtained through scavenging, which aligns more with natural foraging behaviors than with visiting human-provided feeders.

What does a American herring gull sound like?

The American Herring Gull, often just called a seagull, has a variety of vocalizations. Its typical call is a harsh, raucous "ha-ha-ha-haaaah" sound. They often emit long, repeated cries when flying and squawking calls when threatened. In the mating season, the gulls perform "long-call" displays which are composed of guttural sounds followed by high-pitched notes. Herring Gulls don't have traditional "songs" like some birds, but their call repertoire is still diverse and complex.

Call

Audio by Paul Marvin

/ CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

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Laughing Gull

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American Herring Gull

Laughing Gull

Leucophaeus atricilla

General appearance

The Laughing Gull is approximately the size of a crow, with a length of 15-17 inches. It exhibits a long, pointed, swept, and tapered wing shape. The back is dark gray, fading into black wingtips. The bird's bill and legs are usually dark, often with a strong red tinge. The tail shape is typically rounded, short, and square-tipped.

Male vs female

The Laughing Gull shows no sexual dimorphism, meaning males and females have similar physical appearances. Both genders sport the same dark gray back fading into black wingtips, along with the dark bill and legs which often come with a red tinge.

Juvenile

Juvenile Laughing Gulls initially present a scaly brown pattern which transitions into a gray back by their first winter. A dark leg color and a particularly shaped bill, along with their relative size to a crow, aids in identifying juveniles of this species. Variations in their coloration and physical attributes become less distinctive as they age into adulthood.

Size

15.4 - 18.1 in/10.6 - 12.3 oz

There's more to learn about Laughing Gull

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American Herring Gull

Larus smithsonianus

Also known as: Smithsonian Gull

General appearance

The American herring gull is a large gull species, displaying a distinctive silver-gray back and wings with black wingtips adorned with white spots. It features a white head, neck, and underparts, with a robust yellow bill marked by a red spot on the lower mandible. Its legs are generally pink, contributing to its recognizable silhouette.

Male vs female

There is minimal sexual dimorphism in American herring gulls. Males are slightly larger compared to females, although both sexes share similar plumage, making it challenging to differentiate them based solely on appearance without measuring body size.

Juvenile

Juvenile herring gulls differ significantly from adults, exhibiting mottled brown plumage with heavily streaked heads and bodies. They have dark bills and eyes, and their legs may appear more on the brownish side. Over the course of four years, they progressively attain adult plumage, with gradual changes in coloration.

Size

20.9 - 25.6 in/21.2 - 58.2 oz

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How to tell the Laughing Gull from the American Herring Gull

Visual differences

The Laughing Gull is smaller (15-17 inches) compared to the larger American Herring Gull (21-26 inches). Laughing Gulls have dark gray backs and black wingtips, with dark legs often tinged red, and a dark bill. In contrast, the American Herring Gull appears with a silver-gray back and black wingtips with white spots; it features a robust yellow bill with a red spot and pink legs. Juvenile Laughing Gulls are scaly brown transitioning to gray, while juvenile Herring Gulls are mottled brown with heavily streaked heads and bodies.

Key differences and behavior

Laughing Gulls (15-17 inches, 0.7-0.8 lbs) are smaller than American Herring Gulls (21-25 inches, 1.3-3.6 lbs) and are more playful and opportunistic, engaging in bold food-stealing behaviors, such as swiping from pelicans. They thrive in coastal areas but can be found inland; they nest on the ground, often in large colonies. Laughing Gulls have a varied diet, including crustaceans, insects, and fish, and are known to steal eggs. In contrast, American Herring Gulls are versatile; they inhabit coastal, lakeside, and inland dump sites. They also nest on the ground but prefer sheltered sites near natural structures. Their diet includes marine invertebrates, fish, and scavenged food, often specializing in specific prey types. Both species exhibit social behaviors during feeding and nesting but in different habitats and scales.

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Laughing Gull vs Lesser Black-Backed Gull

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Laughing Gull or American Herring Gull?

Laughing Gull

How to recognise a laughing gull?

Habitat

What do laughing gulls like to eat?

What does a laughing gull sound like?

Call

There's more to learn about Laughing Gull

American Herring Gull

How to recognise a American herring gull?

Habitat

What do American herring gulls like to eat?

What does a American herring gull sound like?

Call

There's more to learn about American Herring Gull

Laughing Gull

There's more to learn about Laughing Gull

American Herring Gull

There's more to learn about American Herring Gull

How to tell the Laughing Gull from the American Herring Gull

Visual differences

Key differences and behavior

Still not sure? Here are more lookalikes!

Laughing Gull vs Lesser Black-Backed Gull

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Lesser Black-Backed Gull

American Herring Gull vs Lesser Black-Backed Gull

American Herring Gull

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