Laughing Gull

Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla)

Photo credits: Larry Master
Scientific Name Leucophaeus atricilla
Linnaeus, 1758
Family Name Laridae
Terns, Gulls and Relatives
Did you know?
Unlike other gull species, Laughing Gulls rarely
steal eggs and chicks of other birds (Burger 1996).
Summary
Protection Protected Bird in New York State, protected federally.
This level of state protection means: Defined as a Protected Bird by New York State law.
This species may not be hunted or taken at any time in New York.
Rarity G5, S1
A global rarity rank of G5 means: Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite
rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
A state rarity rank of S1 means: Typically 5 or fewer occurrences, very few remaining
individuals, acres, or miles of stream, or some factor of its biology makes it especially
vulnerable in New York State.
Conservation Status in New York
New York is near the northern limit of the Laughing Gull's breeding range, with breeding
populations being restricted to beaches, dredge spoil islands, sandy non-barrier islands,
and recently, salt marsh islands along the coast of southern Long Island (New York Natural
Heritage Program 2009). Much of the former breeding habitat has been lost due to
development and recreational activities along Long Island's beaches, resulting in the
Laughing Gull and other beach-nesting species to nest on salt marsh islands (Burger 1996;
McGowen and Corwin 2008).
NYNHP Conservation Guide - Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla)
Short-term Trends
Since the inception of gull control measures at John F. Kennedy airport, over 63,000
Laughing Gulls were killed or removed from areas near the airport runways between 1991
and 2003, causing a 60 percent drop in the nesting population at Jamaica Bay (McGowen
and Corwin 2008). Comparing the first and second breeding bird atlas for this species is a
challenge since the birds were lumped into the general gull colony category instead of
counted as a stand alone species. There are currently six active sites where Laughing
Gulls have been known to breed (New York Natural Heritage Program 2009). During the
last three years (2001, 2004, and 2007) of Colonial bird monitoring by the New York
Department of Environmental Conservation only four pairs were observed during the 2007
survey year (New York State Department of Environmental Conservation 2007).
Long-term Trends
Up until 1900, Laughing gulls were regular breeders on Long Island. Their eggs became
valued for collectors and the demand for their feathers for the millenary trade decimated
their populations and the bird was extirpated from New York by the start of the twentieth
century (Buckley and Buckley 1978). Laughing Gulls continued to be spotted as a migrant
but in 1978, a nest was discovered and once again they began breeding on Long Island.
Their numbers greatly exploded and by 1990, there were over 7500 pairs nesting on the
island marshes in Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. The largest of the colonies nested near the
end of a runway at John F. Kennedy Airport, which were a danger to aircraft, prompting the
Port Authority to begin gull control measures (McGowen and Corwin 2008).
This species is protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The Migratory Bird Treaty
Act implements various treaties and conventions between the U. S. and Canada, Japan,
Mexico and the former Soviet Union for the protection of migratory birds. Under this Act,
taking, killing, or possessing migratory birds, including nests or eggs, is unlawful unless
specifically permitted by other regulations.
Conservation and Management
Threats
Loss of suitable nesting and foraging habitat due to development, recreation, and erosion;
competition with other gull species; and gull control activities as a result of minimizing
collision with aircraft, pose the greatest threats to Laughing Gulls (Burger 1996).
Conservation Strategies and Management Practices
Work with partners to develop a salt marsh restoration plan including the removal of
invasive species such as Phragmites on nesting grounds. Monitor populations and improve
on survey methods (Wasilco 2006).Work with the Port Authority to identify and implement
less lethal ways of gull control around John F. Kennedy Airport (Burger 1996).
Research Needs
More research is needed regarding life span, mate fidelity, and reproductive success of the
Laughing Gull. How long-term gull control programs affect this species is also needed
(Burger 1996).
NYNHP Conservation Guide - Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla) 2
Habitat
Laughing Gulls are ground nesters and nest in a variety of coastal habitats including sandy
beaches, dredge spoil islands, salt marshes, and vegetated and rocky islands (Burger 1996) with
enough vegetation to protect nests from predators and high tides (Andrle and Carroll 1988). In New
York, Laughing Gulls nest primarily on the vegetated saltmarsh nonbarrier islands of southern Long
Island.
Associated Ecological Communities
High Salt Marsh
A coastal marsh community that occurs in sheltered areas of the seacoast, in a zone
extending from mean high tide up to the limit of spring tides. It is periodically flooded by
spring tides and flood tides. High salt marshes typically consist of a mosaic of patches that
are mostly dominated by a single graminoid species.
Low Salt Marsh
A coastal marsh community that occurs in sheltered areas of the seacoast, in a zone
extending from mean high tide down to mean sea level or to about 2 m (6 ft) below mean
high tide. It is regularly flooded by semidiurnal tides. The mean tidal range of low salt
marshes on Long Island is about 80 cm, and they often form in basins with a depth of 1.6
m or greater.
Associated Species
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus)
Ring-Billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)
Great Black-Backed Gull (Larus marinus)
Identification Comments
Identifying Characteristics
The Laughing Gull is a medium-sized bird 40-46 cm in length with a long wingspan
averaging 102 cm (Peterson 1980; National Geographic Society 1999). They are easily
identified by their black head and grey back and wings that blend into their black primary
wing feathers. The rest of their body parts are white, with some pink on the breast when
the birds arrive at their breeding grounds, which gradually fades away. The bill is brownish
with a bright red-orange tip. Legs and feet are a deep red (Burger 1996). During the
Nonbreeding season, the black head of the adults changes from black to white with grayish
streaks, the white underparts take on gray undertones, the dark grey back and wings
become lighter (National Geographic Society 1999), and the color of the bill, legs, and feet
become black (Burger 1996). Juveniles are generally brownish grey in color with the
feathers of the wings, outlined in white that resembles a scale-like pattern. The tail feathers
are gray and are edged in white. Hatchlings are born covered in down that is light brown in
color with the underside a lighter brown. The down is mottled with brownish black spots.
Eggs are smooth, oval in shape, have a mean length of 50 mm, and a mean weight of 40
g. The color varies from pale cream to olive brown with dark splotches. Laughing Gulls nest
on the ground. The nests are composed of salt marsh vegetation such as reeds and
grasses. The average size is about 14 cm wide, 6 cm deep, and 28 cm high (Bent 1921,
Burger 1996). Laughing Gulls have a variety of calls, with the most common ones being the
long call (sounding like kee-ahh, kee-ahhh), defense call (a series sounding like kakakaka),
NYNHP Conservation Guide - Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla) 3
and alarm call (sounding like kuk-kuk-kuk). Head tosses often accompany these calls
(Burger 1996).
Characteristics Most Useful for Identification
The black head and lack of a white band separating the black primaries from the rest of the
grey wings of the adult Laughing Gull in breeding plumage is the characteristic most useful
in identifying this species.
Best Life Stage for Identifying This Species
Laughing Gulls can be easily identified when the adults are in their breeding plumage.
Behavior
Laughing Gulls arrive at their breeding grounds a month before breeding, roughly mid-April.
Pair bonds are formed just before arrival to the breeding colony. Territories are quickly
established soon after arriving and nest construction begins with both sexes working
together. The male typically gathers nest material while the female arranges it. Eggs are
laid down shortly after with three eggs making up a full clutch. Incubation begins when the
second egg is laid down, with both male and female taking turns incubating them. Chicks
start to hatch around 23 days after the start of incubation. Hatching is asynchronous, with
the first two chicks being hours apart and the third chick hatching about a day later (Bent
1921; Burger 1996). Laughing Gulls typically forage at low tide during the day, and
sometimes forage during high tide at night (Bernhardt et al 2010). While foraging for flying
insects, they exhibit a behavior called ?hawking?, meaning they take their prey on the wing
(Sweet 1993).
Diet
Laughing Gulls feed on a variety of invertebrates including beetles, ants, flies, worms,
spiders, and grasshoppers (Bernhardt et al 2010). On occasion, they will steal prey from
the mouths of Brown Pelicans and eat the eggs of terns (Bent 1921).
The Best Time to See
In New York, Laughing Gulls begin to arrive at their breeding grounds in late March to early
April and remain throughout the breeding season. Dispersal from breeding grounds begins
in late summer. They begin their fall migration to their wintering grounds in October (Burger
1996). Nonbreeding Laughing Gulls have been spotted inland throughout the year near the
Great Lakes and have also been observed along Long Island during the winter (Bull 1985).
NYNHP Conservation Guide - Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla) 4
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Present
Breeding
The time of year you would expect to find Laughing Gull in New York.
Similar Species
Franklin's Gull(Larus pipixcan): The Franklin?s Gull in breeding plumage is very similar
to the Laughing Gull except that it is smaller in size and has a white band separating the
dark primary feathers from the rest of the grey wing 9Burger 1996).
Taxonomy
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Craniata
Class Birds (Aves)
Order Gulls, Plovers, and Shorebirds (Charadriiformes)
Family Laridae (Terns, Gulls and Relatives)
Synonyms
Larus atricilla (Linnaeus, 1758)
Additional Resources
Links
Google Images
http://images.google.com/images?q=LARUS+ATRICILLA
NatureServe Explorer
http://natureserve.org/explorer/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=LARUS+ATRICILLA
References
American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1983. Check-list of North American Birds, 6th edition. Allen
Press, Inc., Lawrence, Kansas. 877 pp.
Belant, J. L., and R. A. Dolbeer. 1993. Population status of nesting laughing gulls in the United
States 1977-1991. Am. Birds 47:220-224.
Bent, A.C. 1921. Life histories of North American gulls and terns. U.S. Natl. Mus. Bull. 113.
Washington, D.C.
Bernhardt, Glenn, E. Lisa Kutschbach-Brohl, Brian E. Washburn, Richard B. Chipman, and Laura C.
Francoeur. 2010. Temporal variation in terrestrial invertebrate consumption by Laughing gulls in
New York. The American Midland Naturalist 163 (2): 442-454.
NYNHP Conservation Guide - Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla) 5
Buckley, F.G., M. Gochfeld and P.A. Buckley. 1978. Breeding laughing gulls return to Long Island.
Kingbird 28:203-207.
Buckley, P. A., and F. G. Buckley. 1984. Seabirds of the north and middle Atlantic coast of the
United States: their status and conservation. Pages 101-133 in Croxall et al., eds. Status and
conservation of the world's seabirds. ICBP Tech. Pub. No. 2.
Buckley, P.A and F.G. Buckley. 1984. Expanding double-crested cormorant and laughing gull
populations on Long Island, NY. Kingbird 34(3):146-155.
Bull, John. 1974. Birds of New York State. Doubleday, Garden City, New York. 655 pp.
Burger, J., and M. Gochfield. 1985. Nest site selection bylaughing gulls: comparison of tropical
colonies (Culebra, Puerto Rico) with temperate colonies (New Jersey). Condor 87:364-373.
Harrison, C. 1978. A Field Guide to the Nests, Eggs and Nestlings of North American Birds. Collins,
Cleveland, Ohio.
Keys, Jr.,J.; Carpenter, C.; Hooks, S.; Koenig, F.; McNab, W.H.; Russell, W.;Smith, M.L. 1995.
Ecological units of the eastern United States - first approximation (cd-rom), Atlanta, GA: U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. GIS coverage in ARCINFO format, selected imagery,
and map unit tables.
NatureServe. 2005. NatureServe Central Databases. Arlington, Virginia. USA
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Checklist of the amphibians, reptiles,
birds, and mammals of New York State, including their protective status. Nongame Unit, Wildlife
Resources Center, Delmar, NY.
Spendelow, J. A. and S. R. Patton. 1988. National Atlas of Coastal Waterbird Colonies in the
Contiguous United States: 1976-1982. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Biological Report 88(5). x
+ 326 pp.
Terres, J. K. 1980. The Audubon Society encyclopedia of North American birds. Alfred A. Knopf,
New York.
The American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). Banks, R.C., R.T. Chesser, C. Cicero, J.L. Dunn, A.W.
Kratter, I.J. Lovette, P.C. Rasmussen, J.V. Remsen, Jr., J.D. Rising, D.F. Stotz, and K. Winker.
2008. Forty-ninth supplement to the American Ornithologists' U
Wasilco M. 2006. Species group report for salt marsh breeding birds. Pages 139-146 of Appendix
A1, Species group reports for birds in: New York State comprehensive wildlife conservation
strategy. New York Department of Environmental Conservation. Albany N
New York Natural Heritage Program
625 Broadway, 5th Floor,
Albany, NY 12233-4757
Phone: (518) 402-8935
acris@nynhp.org
This project is made possible with funding from:
- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Hudson River
Estuary Program
- Division of Lands & Forests, Department of Environmental Conservation
- New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
Information for this guide was last updated on Mar 19, 2013
This guide was authored by
NYNHP Conservation Guide - Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla) 6