Common Gull
Larus canus
The Common Gull is a regular breeding bird in Scotland and northern England, with smaller numbers found in southern England and Wales, typically seen near coastal areas, lakes, and rivers. In Britain, they can be spotted throughout the year, with migrant birds arriving in the winter months.
Field Identification Guide
Use these features to identify Common Gull in the field.
The Common Gull can be identified by its medium size, grey back, and white wings with black tips, as well as its greenish-yellow bill and legs. Its head and body are white, with a distinctive black ring around the eye during the breeding season.
The Common Gull is slightly larger than a Black-headed Gull, but smaller than a Lesser Black-backed Gull, making it a medium-sized gull.
The male Common Gull has a grey back and wings, with a white head and body, and a greenish-yellow bill and legs, with a black ring around the eye during the breeding season, which fades to a more subdued colouration in winter.
The female Common Gull is similar to the male, with no significant differences in plumage, making it difficult to distinguish between the sexes based on appearance alone.
The Common Gull's call is a distinctive, high-pitched "kee-kee-kee" or "kraa-kraa-kraa" sound, often heard in a series of repeated phrases.
Common Gulls are opportunistic feeders, scavenging for food on beaches, fields, and lakes, and are known for their agile flight and ability to follow ploughs and tractors in search of insects and small invertebrates.
The Common Gull can be confused with the Lesser Black-backed Gull and the Herring Gull, but can be distinguished by its smaller size, greyer back, and greenish-yellow bill and legs, as well as its more slender build and narrower wings.
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