California Gull
California Gull: Moderately large gull, white body, gray wings, black wing tips. Bill is yellow with red and black spot near tip of bill on lower mandible. Legs are yellow; eye is dark with red orbital ring. Strong direct flight with deep wing beats. Soars on thermals and updrafts.
● Song:
"kow-kow-kow", "kee-ou", "yowww", "kee-yah"
● Foraging & Feeding:
California Gull: Feeds on insects, fish, eggs, and young of other birds, small mammals, worms, spiders, refuse, and carrion.
● Breeding & nesting:
California Gull: Two or three dark gray and brown blotched, olive buff eggs are laid in a nest made of grass, dead weeds, and sticks; nests in large colonies, usually on islands in shallow inland lakes, sometimes with Ring-billed Gulls. Incubation ranges from 23 to 27 days and is carried out by both parents.
● Similar species:
California Gull: Adult Herring Gull is larger, has pink legs, yellow iris, paler back, and slightly thicker yellow bill with a more pronounced spot on lower mandible. 1st winter Herring Gull has entirely black bill, only show contrasting secondaries in flight, and lack contrasting greater secondary coverts. Adult Mew Gull is smaller with unmarked yellow bill.
● Range & Habitat:
California Gull: Breeds in northern prairie provinces east to North Dakota, south to northwestern Wyoming and Utah, and west to northeastern California. Spends winters mainly on the coast from Oregon southward, in lesser numbers inland. In breeding season, preferred habitats include interior lakes and marshes, while in winter, are found mostly on the coast.