The Laughing Gull, scientifically known as Leucophaeus atricilla, is a medium-sized seabird belonging to the gull family. Its name comes from its distinctive call that sounds like laughter – an eerie but delightful sound that can be heard by anyone fortunate enough to see or hear this bird in flight.
Basic Description:
The Laughing Gull has a striking appearance with its black head, red bill with black tip, white eye-ring and gray wings. During breeding season, it sports a dark hood around its eyes, which fades to pure white during winter. Its legs are short and black while its tail is squared at the end.
Where To Find This Bird:
Laughing Gulls are found along the coasts of North America from Canada down through Central America and South America. They nest in large colonies on barrier islands near estuaries or lagoons.
Habitat:
This species prefers nesting on sandy beaches and marshy areas where they can feed easily on fish, insects and crustaceans such as crabs or oysters. It also inhabits man-made habitats such as landfills or sewage ponds for easy food access.
Food:
Laughing Gulls have an omnivorous diet consisting of small fish, marine worms, mollusks crustaceans but also scavenges for food items like garbage scraps found in urban coastal areas. They are opportunistic eaters that will take advantage of any available source of nutrition which makes them quite adaptable birds.
Cool Facts:
1) Despite their name sounding like laughter when heard from afar these birds often steal each other’s catches while at sea creating loud squawks.
2) The laughing gull is one of the few birds known to congregate repeatedly around fires caused by burning trash dumps.
3) These seabirds are not picky about where they build their nests; eggs have been found laid directly onto rooftops!
4) The laughing gull also has a unique way of catching prey. It will hover over the water and then suddenly drop down to catch fish or other small animals.
In conclusion, while the Laughing Gull may seem like just another common seabird species, it is a fascinating creature with its unique call and fascinating habits. Its ability to adapt to various habitats makes it an important indicator of environmental health in many coastal areas. So next time you find yourself near the coast, keep an eye out for this beautiful bird as it glides effortlessly through the air.
