CALIFORNIA GULL

Larus californicus

Scientific name:

CLASSIFICATION Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Charadriiformes Family: Laridae Genus: Larus Species: L. californicus

Closest related bird: Western Gull and Ring Billed Gull

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Plain head pattern

White belly

Gray back Black

wings

Yellowish green feet

Weight is 15-36oz

18-21 inches tall

Wings are about 51 inches

MALES AND

FEMALES

malefemale

Males are slightly bigger

Distribution

Habitat

lakes

Large farm lands

Habitat

Garbage dumps

Parking lots

Habitat

Most of all, Beaches

CONSERVATION STATUS

-Least conern

-population doubled since 1930

-1,000,000 California Gulls exist today!

MATING Beak is brighter in color when it is

mating Very affectionate parents Monogamous (one mate) Females 1-4 eggs 17 days to hatch Mate after their third summer

Eggs

Babies Stays with parent for about 3 weeks

Adults

Longevity and Morality

Around 5 years in the wild

Up to 15 years in captivity

Males and females live the same amount

SEASONAL PATTERNS!!

Migrate to mid-Canada and down to the tip of Mexico

PREDATORS

Coyote

Eagle

Will attack the California Gull

HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS

California gulls might come over to you if you have food

otherwise they will leave you alone

FUN FACTS!! California gulls are one of the only birds

that can drink salt water and fresh water.

A California Gull sounds like this: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/california_gull/sounds

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIqIAvEOGDs

How it eats flies