Common Gull

The Common Gull is a familiar, medium-sized gull across much of northern and western Eurasia, equally at home on rocky coastlines, inland lakes, and plowed farm fields. Adults have a rounded head, dark eyes, and a soft, gentle expression, with a pale gray mantle and clean white head and underparts.

The bill is slim and yellow-green, typically unmarked or with only a faint dark ring, and the legs are yellow-green. Wingtips show black with white spots. In winter, the head becomes lightly streaked with gray-brown.

Until a 2021 taxonomic revision, this species was considered the same as the North American Mew Gull (now Short-billed Gull); the two are now treated as distinct species that replace each other geographically across the Northern Hemisphere.

Key field marks

• Rounded head with a gentle, dark-eyed expression
• Slim, unmarked or lightly marked yellow-green bill
• Yellow-green legs
• Pale gray mantle with black-and-white wingtips
• Streaky head in winter plumage

Similar species

• Mew Gull / Short-billed Gull: nearly identical in appearance but found in North America rather than Eurasia; the two species were formerly lumped together.
• Ring-billed Gull: larger, pale eye, black ring around a thicker bill.
• Kittiwake: solid black wingtips without white spots and black legs.

Habitat

Uses a wide range of habitats including coastal cliffs and beaches, inland lakes, moorland, and farmland, often seen following the plow for exposed invertebrates.

Range and migration

Breeds across northern Europe and Asia, from Iceland and the British Isles east across Scandinavia and Russia. Northern and eastern populations migrate south to milder coasts and farmland in winter, with some populations largely resident in milder parts of their range.

Behavior

Social and adaptable, Common Gulls forage in flocks on farmland and playing fields as readily as along the coast, and roost communally on lakes and reservoirs outside the breeding season.

Voice

Calls include a high-pitched, mewing "kee-ya" note along with various chattering calls at breeding colonies.

Feeding

Feeds on earthworms and insects on farmland and grassland, as well as small fish and invertebrates along coasts and at lakes.

Nesting and breeding

Nests on the ground near water, on cliff ledges, or occasionally on buildings, either solitarily or in loose colonies. Clutches typically contain two to three eggs, incubated by both parents.