Seagull
A seagull is a common informal name for a gull, a seabird in the family Laridae.
A seagull is the common informal name for a gull, a seabird in the family Laridae. The term has no fixed taxonomic meaning and is used broadly for several gull species, especially those near coasts and waterways.
What it is
Seagull is a layperson’s term for gulls, not a formal scientific classification. Gulls belong to the family Laridae and subfamily Larinae, in the order Charadriiformes. Ornithologists generally prefer “gull” over “seagull.”
Key details
Gulls are medium to large seabirds with webbed feet, long wings, and plumage that is typically white, grey, or dark-backed. They are opportunistic feeders, eating fish, crustaceans, carrion, and human food waste. Gulls are highly adaptable and live along coasts, inland waterways, and urban areas.
Why it matters
Gulls are common across Canada’s Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic coasts, as well as around the Great Lakes and major urban waterfronts. Their adaptability and scavenging habits make them familiar birds in coastal cities and ports, often interacting with human environments.
In short
- Seagull is an informal name for gulls, not a scientific term.
- Gulls are adaptable seabirds found on coasts and inland areas.
- They are opportunistic feeders, often scavenging near humans.
- In Canada, gulls are common along all three coasts and the Great Lakes.
Gulls are common along Canada’s Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic coasts, as well as around the Great Lakes and major urban waterfronts.
Quick questions
Is a seagull the same as a gull?
Are seagulls only found at the sea?
What do seagulls eat?
Sources
- Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GullSupports: Gulls are informally called seagulls; the term has no fixed taxonomic meaning; gull taxonomy and relationships.
- Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/animal/gullSupports: Gulls are seabirds in the family Laridae; general description of the group.
- Merriam-Webster — https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/seagullSupports: Definition of seagull as a gull frequenting the sea, broadly a gull.
- Dictionary.com — https://www.dictionary.com/browse/seagullSupports: Seagull as a popular/common name for gull; common behavioural and habitat description.
- Audubon — https://www.audubon.org/news/seagull-or-gull-who-really-caresSupports: Birding usage that “seagull” is informal and “gull” is the preferred term in ornithology.