# Common Gull

*Larus canus*

Common gulls perform a 'rain dance' by rapidly paddling their feet on the ground to vibrate the soil, tricking earthworms into thinking it is raining so they surface.

- **Taxonomy:** Animalia › Chordata › Aves › Charadriiformes › Laridae › Larus
- **IUCN Red List status:** Least Concern
- **Population trend:** decreasing
- **Biome:** wetland
- **Habitat:** Coastal cliffs, estuaries, marshes, lakesides, and increasingly urban parks or landfills.
- **Diet:** Omnivorous; consumes insects, fish, aquatic invertebrates, worms, and organic waste.
- **Range:** Northern Europe, Northern Asia, Northwestern North America, Mediterranean coasts (winter)
- **Size:** 40-46 cm in length with a 100-120 cm wingspan
- **Lifespan:** 10-15 years in the wild
- **Active:** diurnal
- **Threats:** Habitat degradation, marine pollution, overfishing reducing natural prey, and avian influenza.
- **Safe to approach?:** Harmless but opportunistic. Do not feed human food, especially bread, as it lacks nutrition. Maintain a 5-meter distance. If the bird swoops or calls loudly, you are likely near a nest; hold an umbrella or stick above your head and calmly exit the area.

## About

The common gull ( Larus canus ) is a medium-sized gull which breeds in northern Asia, northern Europe and northwestern North America. The North American subspecies is commonly referred to as the mew gull , although that name is also used by some authorities for the whole species. It migrates further south in winter. There are differing accounts as to how the species acquired its vernacular name (see Etymology section below).

## Sources

- Plate: https://gaia-dex.com/species/58d0fb01-1bb2-410d-b1e6-bfed753c82c4
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/4356
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larus canus
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List category, as recorded by Gaia-Dex
- Photo: https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/11219295/medium.jpeg (Estormiz, no known copyright restrictions (public domain), PD, via iNaturalist)

Habitat, diet, size and similar notes are AI-written summaries; check them against the linked sources before relying on them.