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Seagull Facts & Worksheets

Seagulls are an easily recongizable seabird that have been around for at least 30 to 33 million years.

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A seagull is a kind of seabird that has around 50 different species all over the world. They are also ancient creatures that have been around for at least 30 to 33 million years. They are under the kingdom Animalia, class Aves, order Charadriiformes, suborder Lari, and family Laridae. They are frequently seen around coasts, shorelines, lakes, ponds, and even on farms where they eat grain crops.

See the fact file below for more information on the Seagull, or you can download our 31-page Seagull worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

Physical Characteristics

  • A seagull’s average length is 22.1 to 26.0 in (55 to 67 cm). It also has an average weight of 28.2 to 44.1 oz (800 to 1270 g) and a wingspan of 53.9 to 57.5 in (135 to 147 cm).
  • The seagull’s head is small compared to their bodies. This contains their beak, eyes, eyelid, earholes, nose, and salt glands. Their beak is long, and thick, ends with a hook, and has a red spot on the tip. They also have two ear holes and two eyes with nictitating membranes (transparent third eyelid), which provides extra protection. 
  • Seagulls have relatively large bodies, which for some, are covered with white plumage. Their bodies are divided into two sections: the thorax, which supports the wings and contains vital organs like the heart, and the abdomen, which is the body’s lower part containing the digestive system, and the reproductive and excretory organs.
  • Seagulls have small claws halfway up their lower leg. This helps them to catch prey and rest safely on high ledges without falling off.
  • They also have broad wings, which may be grey or white, and typically have black or dark-colored tips. Seagulls use these for flight, and they can also do acrobatic antics.
  • Their legs are thin but elongated and are colored black, brownish, or orange to dark red. They use and extend them to enter deep water while remaining above the surface to search for food.
  • Their feet are webbed (membraned between the toes). Webbed feet can be seen on many aquatic species; it is designed for swimming but can also be used for walking.
  • Some seagulls also have a tail that is squared off or rounded. They use this to maintain stability on varying flight speeds and to generate a lift to turn and have slow flights.

Habitat and Location

  • Seagulls can be found all over the world. These birds can be found on all continents, including Antarctica, and are frequently linked with coastal areas, beach towns, fishing villages, inland rivers, and certain inland sites.
  • Seagulls’ habitats are coastal ecosystems that exist where the sea meets the land. It comprises a variety of habitat types, such as coral reefs, mangroves, backwaters, lagoons, estuaries, and sand seagrass beds.
  • They are also one of the most common birds to be observed in cities. These scavengers can be observed circling garbage cans, docks, and parks in search of their next meal.
  • Seagulls dwell in colonies that can range from a few pairs to thousands of birds.
  • Seagulls are migratory birds, and food is the greatest influence on their migration behavior. Some travel far distances while others go for shorter ones. They also spend the winter in warmer climates.

Mating and Reproduction

  • Seagulls are monogamous birds (they have one partner at a time). Every year during the mating season, a mating couple gathers to reproduce and care for their offspring. Even though they reside in vast colonies, each breeding couple occupies and protects their territory from neighboring couples.
  • Seagulls are loving and devoted parents. The male and female share responsibilities in incubating the eggs, feeding, and protecting the babies.
  • Females can lay one, two, or three dark brown or olive-green eggs, depending on their species, and the incubation phase lasts between 22 and 26 days. The fathers are the ones vital in the chicks’ feeding.
  • Young gulls then form nursery flocks where they play and learn important life skills. These are supervised by a few adult males, and they stay until the birds are old enough to reproduce.
  • Seagulls also have a strong social structure that works well, especially against predators in their breeding colonies. They will gang up on the invader with up to a hundred gulls and force them away, or out to the sea to drown.
  • Most seagulls breed once a year, during their three-to-five-month breeding seasons. Pair bonding also includes nest building. Most seagull species build their nests on the ground, whereas others build their nests on higher land, such as cliffs or trees.

Food and Diet

  • Gulls are primarily carnivorous, and they are very adaptive feeders consuming a wide variety of prey.
  • They commonly eat fish, marine and freshwater invertebrates, arthropods, insects, rodents, smaller birds, eggs, carrion, offal, reptiles, and amphibians. They also consume seeds, fruit, and leftovers from human meals.
  • Human overfishing changed the food of gulls. It forced the gulls to prey on crustaceans rather than fish like sardines.
  • They are not only versatile in what they eat but also in the method they use. Gulls graze in the air, water, and even on the land.
  • They usually seek prey that has been moved to the surface by marine hunters like orcas, as they are not good at diving below the water.
  • They are also clever feeders. If they catch a clam or mussel, but they can’t open the shell, they will fly at some distance to drop and crack it open. They also use breadcrumbs to attract fish and make use of their feet to make a rain-like sound to attract earthworms. They pass these hunting strategies and skills to their offspring.
  • Seagulls frequently steal food from other birds, animals, and even humans. They also devour young members of their species on occasion (cannibalism).
  • Each day, seagulls can consume up to 20% of their body weight in food. The average seagull weighs 1.5 pounds, meaning it can eat about 3 ounces of food a day.

Amazing Features and Traits

  • Seagulls are one of the few animals that can drink salt water. They have unique glands (salt glands) that remove excess salt from the body.
  • They have a rich and highly developed communication vocabulary that includes a variety of vocalizations and body movements.
  • They also have amazing vision and can see clearly from up to two kilometers away. This is because their eyes are positioned to the side of their heads, providing them with a panoramic perspective. This implies that seagulls can detect predators approaching from all directions and flee before it’s too late.
  • Seagulls also have an incredible sense of smell, allowing them to detect even the smallest amount of food from over 3 miles away. This is possible because they have sensitive nerve endings within their nostrils called Jacobson’s organs.
  • Seagulls have sophisticated facial recognition abilities. They can recognize and recall certain people based on their faces, especially those who feed or have contact with them. They can also differentiate human emotions based on body language and voice.
  • They also have a lifespan of 10 to 15 years in the wild, but they have been known to live up to 30 years.
  • Seagulls can also achieve flying speeds of about 23 to 25 mph in headwind and 29 to 30 mph in tailwind situations.
  • To defend themselves from predators, all seagulls fly in an unpredictable pattern known as “jinking”. They do this to confound any predators who may be pursuing them. That’s why it is difficult for their predators, like falcons and hawks, to predict what they will do next.

Species of Seagulls

  • Seagulls have many species that vary in color, shape, and size and have distinct characteristics that set them apart.
  • Common gulls have shorter, more tapered bills than other gulls. During the breeding season, they have a grey body with yellow legs, and in the winter, they have black wingtips with large white mirrors.
  • The Great black-backed gull is a scavenger, pirate, and hunter. They are large gulls with white mirrors at the wingtips, pinkish legs, and a yellowish bill with an orange or red spot near the lower tip. 
  • The Laughing gull is a North and South American gull that takes three years to mature. This species is easy to identify because it is white except for its black head, long red beak, and dark grey back.
  • The Kelp gull, also known as the Dominican gull, is a bird of prey found along the coasts of South America, Australia, and New Zealand. It has black upper parts and wings, a white head and underparts, a yellow bill with a red spot, and legs that are greenish-yellow.
  • The Black-headed gull is a small gull found throughout the world, including Europe and Canada. This gull has a chocolate-brown head, a pale grey body, black tips on its primary wing feathers, and a red-colored bill and legs. It weighs between 190 and 400 grams.
  • The Vega Gull is a large gull species that breeds in Northeast Asia. They resemble common gulls, but their top is slightly darker in gray, and their chest, legs, and bill are all bright pink.

Seagull Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about the Seagull across 31 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about the Seagull, a kind of ancient seabird that have been around for at least 30-33 million years.

Download includes the following worksheets

  • Seagull Facts
  • Searching for Gull-Word
  • How Do These Work?
  • Take Me Home!
  • It’s Breeding Season!
  • Hunting Some Preys
  • What’s Special About Me?
  • Your Favorite Feature
  • Guess the Type
  • Matching Gulls
  • What Seagull Are You?

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a seagull?

A seagull is a type of bird that lives near the coast and around bodies of water. They are known for their white and gray feathers, strong beak and webbed feet. They are also known for their distinctive calls and for being scavengers.

What do seagulls eat?

Seagulls are opportunistic feeders, they eat a wide variety of food. They feed on fish, crustaceans, worms, insects, and even garbage. They are also known for scavenging, which means they will eat food that has been discarded by humans.

Where do seagulls live?

Seagulls live near coastlines and around bodies of water such as oceans, seas, rivers, and lakes. They can also be found in cities and towns near the coast or on bodies of water, where they are attracted to food sources such as garbage and fish.

Do seagulls migrate?

Some seagull species migrate, which means they travel from one place to another depending on the seasons. For example, they may travel to warmer areas during the winter and then return to their breeding grounds during the summer. Other seagulls are resident, meaning they stay in the same area year-round.

Can seagulls be trained?

Seagulls are wild animals and cannot be fully trained. However, they can be accustomed to certain behaviors, such as being fed by humans, but should not be considered as pets. They are protected by law, and it is illegal to harm or capture wild seagulls.

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Link will appear as Seagull Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, January 11, 2023

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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