Gulls

Gulls are usually grey and white, often with black markings on the head or wings, strong bills, and all have webbed feet. They normally have harsh mewing, wailing, or squawking calls. Most gulls are ground-nesting piscivores or carnivores which take live food or scavenge opportunistically, particularly the larger species in the genus Larus. Live food includes crustaceans, molluscs, fish, and for the larger species, birds and mammals. Gulls' jaws can unhinge to allow them to consume large prey. They are typically coastal or inshore (or even inland) species, rarely venturing far out to sea, except the kittiwakes and Sabine's gull. The large species take up to four years to attain full adult plumage, but two years is typical for small gulls. Large white-headed gulls are usually long-lived birds, with a maximum age of 49 years recorded for the European herring gull.