Larus brachyrhynchus
The Short-billed Gull (Larus brachyrhynchus) is a graceful, medium-sized gull, often admired for its delicate appearance and distinctive dark eyes. Adults typically measure 40-46 cm (16-18 in) in length with a wingspan of 100-115 cm (39-45 in) and weigh 300-550 g (11-19 oz). They sport a pale gray mantle and white head, neck, underparts, and tail. Key field marks include a relatively short, unmarked yellow bill with a black tip (which can sometimes be faint or absent), and striking dark eyes,...
This adaptable gull inhabits a variety of ecosystems including coastal beaches, estuaries, rocky shores, mudflats, and open ocean, as well as inland lakes, rivers, tundras, and agricultural fields. It is typically found at low elevations, from sea level up to several hundred meters in inland bree...
An opportunistic generalist, its diet is extremely varied, including a wide range of invertebrates (insects, earthworms, marine crustaceans), small fish, small rodents, eggs and chicks of other birds, carrion, grain, berries, and human refuse. They primarily forage by walking on the ground, surfa...
Short-billed Gulls are largely diurnal, engaging in active foraging throughout the day and often congregating in large communal roosts on open water, sandbars, or isolated islands at night. Their foraging strategies are highly opportunistic and diverse; they perform aerial hawking for insects, su...
The Short-billed Gull's breeding range is confined to Northwestern North America, encompassing Alaska, the Yukon Territory, the Northwest Territories, northern British Columbia, and parts of interior Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. After breeding, populations undertake a significant southwar...
Least Concern
- The Short-billed Gull was only officially recognized as a distinct species (Larus brachyrhynchus) in North America in 2021 by the American Ornithological Society, having previously been considered a subspecies of the Mew Gull (Larus canus). - Its specific epithet 'brachyrhynchus' literally mean...