Western Gull (Larus occidentalis)

Description: This bird has mostly white plumage and is identifiable by its larger size, pink legs, dark gray backs and wings, and red spot on the bottom of its yellow bill.

Habitat: The western gull is found year-round all along the Pacific Coast of the United States, and also further down south along Baja California. During the non-breeding seasons, they’re also found a bit farther north and south than their usual range.

Nesting: At Haystack Rock, Western gulls build their nests on the tops of ledges and large boulders around the base of the main rock. Gulls usually lay 3 eggs but can have as many as 6. Both parents help incubate the eggs and if a female lays more than 3 eggs it is common for another female to also assist with incubation. Chicks hatch after 25 to 29 days and often wonder away from the nest shortly after hatching. Parents feed the young until the young learn to fly at 6 to 7 weeks. At Haystack fledgling are often seen attempting to beg for food from their parents in the late summer and early fall, well after they have learned to fly.

Diet: Western gulls eat a variety of things including fish, marine invertebrates, and carrion. They’ll also eat practically whatever humans feed them, but it’s best not to feed gulls. These birds forage both out at sea and on land. 

Tide Pool Tidbits:

• Scientific research has revealed that the purpose of the red spot underneath their bills, among other things, is for western gull chicks to peck at to get their parents attention; essentially, it’s a dinner bell for their young to use.

• Many hybrids between the western and glaucous-winged gulls are commonly found in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States, which often makes it difficult to confidently identify a gull. In fact, these hybrids are more common than western gulls in places like Washington state.

• The California gull is another very similar-looking relative of the western gull. What sets this bird apart is that it has yellow legs, whereas the western gull has pink legs. Also, it only takes 3 years for a California gull to gain its adult plumage while it takes an extra year for the western gull.

Reference: The Cornell Lab, Audubon