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Daily Bucket: Laughing Gulls [1]

['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']

Date: 2025-04-21

The Daily Bucket is a regular series from the Backyard Science group. Here we talk about Mother Nature in all her glory, especially the parts that live nearby. So let us know (as close as you are comfortable) where you are and what's going on around you. What's the weather like? Seen any interesting plants, bugs or critters? Are there birds at your feeders? Deer, foxes or snakies in your yard? Seen any cool rocks or geological features? Post your observations and notes here. And photos. We like photos. :)

If you’ve been to Florida, then you’ve seen Laughing Gulls. The large raucous flocks with their distinctive high-pitched “laugh” are found virtually everywhere—at the beach, in parking lots, at the parks, wheeling around in the sky—begging for tidbits (and actively stealing food) from tourists. Toss a few french fries on the ground, and you’re likely to be mobbed by dozens. I refer to them affectionately as “sky rats”.

The Laughing Gull, Leucophaeus (formerly Larus) atricilla, can be found along the entire US east coast and Gulf coast, from Canada down to Florida and across to Texas, then down to Venezuela. In the north, the gulls are summer residents and migrate south for the winter; in the south, they stay year-round. They are one of the smaller gull species. Juveniles are various shades of brown and grey. The adult winter plumage includes slate-grey back and wings and a white body, black legs, and red and black beak; during summer breeding season they develop jet-black heads.

Laughing Gulls are colonial breeders and nest once a year, gathering on offshore islands by the hundreds, often in the company of other gulls and shorebirds (and they often raid the other nests to eat the eggs or hatchlings, even of their own species). Both females and males construct the nest on the ground, from grass and other plant materials, and care for the 3-4 nestlings. The eggs incubate for about three weeks, and the fledglings leave the nest after about a month. Juveniles take about three years to reach adulthood. Individual birds can live up to 20 years.

Like most Gulls, they are omnivorous scavengers and will eat virtually anything that is or once was alive. Laughing Gulls are virtuoso fliers and are adept at hovering or swooping by to grab food on the wing. Flocks are loud and raucous, and there are always lots of squabbling and dominance displays going on. When a large food source is discovered, everything usually degenerates quickly into an anarchic free-for-all.

While the tourists (especially the kids) usually love the birds and generously toss them french fries and hamburger rolls, most of the locals consider the Laughing Gull to be a pain in the ass. Large flocks produce large amounts of droppings, which must be scraped away daily. When regularly fed, the birds can also become extraordinarily bold and will take food right out of your hand—whether offered or not.

One thing is for sure—whether you love the Laughing Gulls or hate them, you certainly can’t miss them.

I admit---I like the thieving little bastids. They are tough, clever and adaptable, and long after humans are gone the gulls will still be here, stealing food from whatever is left.

Laughers, Ringbills, and a couple different Terns

A pair of Laughers on the beach in summer plumage

“Hi there, human—got anything I can steal?”

Winter plumage

Tossing some Cheerios to the Laughers

And now it is your turn: what’s stealing food from you in your neck of the woods?

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