The Laughing Gull

The Laughing Gull

     The Laughing Gull is a medium-sized gull of North and South America. It breeds on the Atlantic coast of North America, the Caribbean, and northern South America. Northernmost populations migrate further south in winter.  It's name is derived from its raucous kee-agh call, which sounds like a high-pitched laugh "ha... ha... ha...".

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The Laughing Gull

 

     The Laughing Gull is easy to identify. It is 14–16 in long with a 39–43 in wingspan. The summer adult's body is white apart from the dark grey back and wings and black head. Its wings are much darker grey than all other gulls of similar size and they have black tips.  The beak is long and red. The black hood is mostly lost in winter.

The Laughing Gull

     Laughing Gulls take three years to reach adult plumage. Immature birds are always darker than most similar-sized gulls.  First-year birds are greyer below and have paler heads and second-years can be distinguished by the wing pattern and structure.

     Laughing Gulls breed in coastal marshes and ponds in large colonies. The large nest, made largely from grasses, is constructed on the ground. The 3 or 4 greenish eggs are incubated for about three weeks.

    The Laughing Gull is normally diurnal, being active during the day. During the breeding season it forages at night as well. It usually looks for food along the beach at night, but will also hover to catch insects around lights. These are omnivores like most gulls, and they will scavenge as well as seeking suitable small prey such as fish, squid, shrimp, and berries.

     Nest colonies in northeastern United States were nearly eliminated by egg and plume hunters in the late 19th century. Populations have increased over the last century, following protection.

The Laughing Gull

     The male and female Laughing Gull usually build their nest together. If a male cannot find a mate, he may start building a nest platform and then use it to attract a female.
The adult Laughing Gull removes the eggshells from the nest after the eggs hatch. If the shells are not removed, a piece can become lodged on top of the slightly smaller unhatched third egg and prevent it from hatching.

The Laughing Gull

     A similar species, Franklin's Gull, is daintier; bill straight.  Adult has pattern of white-black-white on wingtips. In summer it sports a black hood and pink-flushed white underparts. Compared to the Laughing Gull, the winter adult retains more extensive dark markings on head; first-winter has narrower dark tail band.