A medium-sized seabird found along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the Americas, from Canada all the way down to northern South America. It’s one of the most recognizable and vocal gulls in North America, especially during the summer months when its signature cackling call—which sounds like loud, infectious laughter—echoes across beaches, marshes, and boardwalks. This distinctive call is what gives the laughing gull its name, and
In breeding season, the laughing gull is striking in appearance. It sports a jet-black head, bright white eye arcs, and a deep red bill, with a smooth gray back and white underparts. Its legs are black, and its wing tips are dark with white spots. Outside of breeding season, the black head fades to a smudgy gray, giving the bird a more muted look. These gulls are strong, agile fliers, often seen gliding effortlessly over shorelines or swooping down to snatch food from the water—or from unsuspecting beachgoers!
Laughing gulls are opportunistic feeders. They’ll eat just about anything, from fish and crabs to insects, garbage, and snacks left behind by people. They’re known for their bold behavior and clever scavenging techniques, often seen patrolling parking lots, piers, and picnic areas. They also feed in estuaries and tidal flats, sometimes following fishing boats or other birds to steal an easy meal. During the breeding season, they nest in large, noisy colonies, often on barrier islands or coastal marshes, building nests out of grasses and twigs on the ground. Both parents share duties, taking turns incubating eggs and feeding chicks.
Distribution
Anguilla
Antigua & Barbuda
Aruba
Australia
Austria
Bahamas
Barbados
Belize
Bermuda
Bonaire Sint Eustatius And Saba
Brazil
British Virgin Is.
Bulgaria
Canada
Cayman Islands
Chile
Colombia
Costa Rica
Cuba
Curaçao
Denmark
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
El Salvador
Fiji
France
French Guiana
Gambia
Gibraltar
Greece
Greenland
Grenada
Guadeloupe
Guatemala
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Iceland
Ireland
Jamaica
Kiribati
Marshall Islands
Martinique
Mexico
Montserrat
Morocco
Namibia
Netherlands
Nicaragua
Nort. Mariana Is.
Panama
Peru
Pitcairn
Portugal
Puerto Rico
Saint Barthélemy
Saint Lucia
Saint Martin
Saint Pierre
Saint Vincent
Samoa
Senegal
Sint Maarten
Spain
St. Kitts & Nevis
Suriname
Sweden
Trinidad & Tobago
Turks & Caicos
US Minor Is.
US Virgin Islands
United Kingdom
United States
VenezuelaAnything we've missed?
Help us improve this page by suggesting edits. Glory never dies!
Suggest an editGet to know me
Terrestrial / Aquatic
Altricial / Precocial
Polygamous / Monogamous
Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic
Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal
Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Flock
Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore
Migratory: Yes / No
Domesticated: Yes / No
Dangerous: Yes / No
