The avian diversity around Gull Rock is a testament to the island’s unique ecological significance. Our exploration of these 17 bird species has unveiled a fascinating tapestry of feathered life, from the elegant Northern Gannets soaring above to the charming Atlantic Puffins nesting in burrows.
As we’ve delved into their behaviors, habitats, and roles within this marine environment, it’s evident that Gull Rock provides a crucial sanctuary for these coastal and seabird species.
Preserving this habitat and its rich avian population is vital for the birds and the overall health of the coastal ecosystem. It underscores the importance of conservation efforts to safeguard these avian treasures for future generations.
1. Hartlaub’s Gull
Hartlaub’s gull, also known as the king gull, is a small species of seagull found in parts of Africa and Asia. It was once thought to be a subspecies of silver gull but has since been placed within its own genus, Chroicocephalus.
The bird was named after German zoologist and physician Gustav Hartlaub, who first described it in 1857.
This species usually has grey-brown upperparts with a yellow bill that sometimes appears black due to the amount of darkness on their plumage.
They mainly feed on fish, crustaceans, and insects, which they hunt from rocky shores or mudflats near coasts or estuaries.
These birds often form flocks when foraging for food, making them highly visible by shoreline visitors, especially during summer months when they breed along coastal areas throughout their range, annually laying 2–3 eggs at each nest site built atop cliffs or ledges either alone or amongst other nesting sea birds such as cormorants and terns.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Laridae |
| Genus | Chroicocephalus |
| Species | C. hartlaubii |
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2. Kelp Gull
The Kelp Gull is a majestic bird that can be found on coasts and islands of the Southern Hemisphere. It has a beautiful plumage of black, white, and grey feathers and brown eyes.
Its wingspan ranges between 91-122 cm (36 – 48 inches). The nominate L. d. Dominican subspecies is most commonly seen around South America, parts of Australia, and New Zealand, where it goes by the name “black-backed gull” or “mohawk.”
These birds are omnivorous but tend to prefer fish as their primary food source, while they also scavenge carrion when necessary.
In order to stand out from other seagulls during mating season, they display vibrant courtship rituals, which involve flying high in circles over their nesting area and flapping their wings dramatically before diving down into the water near potential mates.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Laridae |
| Genus | Larus |
| Species | L. dominicanus |
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3. Grey-Headed Gull
The Grey-headed Gull is a small gull species that breeds patchily in South America and Africa south of the Sahara.
Its head and wings have grey feathers, while its body is white with some brown spots near the tail.
This bird can be seen around coasts or inland lakes during winter times when it becomes more widespread.
Although not truly migratory, there have been rare cases where this species was recorded as a vagrant to North America, Italy, and Spain.
The diet of these birds consists mainly of fish but also invertebrates such as mollusks, crustaceans, and insects.
They usually forage alone or in pairs along shorelines, looking for food items by probing mudflats or even stealing from other birds at times.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Laridae |
| Genus | Chroicocephalus |
| Species | C. cirrocephalus |
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4. Brown-Headed Gull
The Brown-headed Gull is a small species of gull that breeds in the high plateaus of Central Asia, from Tajikistan to Inner Mongolia.
During winter, it migrates southward and can be seen along coastal areas and large inland lakes throughout the Indian Subcontinent.
They usually breed in colonies within reedbeds or marshes, constructing nests from sticks on top of trees or among tall vegetation.
These birds have brown heads while their bodies are white with black wing tips; they also feature bright yellow eyes, giving them an intense yet endearing look.
Their diet consists mainly of fish, but they’ll also consume insects, mollusks, crustaceans, as well as other invertebrates and even plant matter during seasons when food is scarce.
Despite their shy nature towards humans, these amazing birds create wonderful wildlife-watching opportunities.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Laridae |
| Genus | Chroicocephalus |
| Species | C. brunnicephalus |
Also Featured In: Most Common Birds in Tajikistan, Birds of Goa
5. European Herring Gull
The European herring gull is one of the most recognizable birds, easily spotted along the shorelines of Western Europe.
It has a wingspan of up to 66 cm long and can nest across Northern Europe, Central Europe, Eastern Europe, and Scandinavia.
During colder months, many European herring gulls migrate further south in search of warmer temperatures, which allows them to survive better during wintertime.
As scavengers, they often take advantage of human debris or waste as food sources near populated areas such as beaches, parks, and cities; however, their diet also consists of fish, insects, and other small animals that live near coastal regions.
Despite being common in some parts of its range, this species may have experienced population declines due to habitat loss caused by human activities like urbanization but still remains abundant in others thanks to conservation efforts implemented over time by local authorities worldwide.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Laridae |
| Genus | Larus |
| Species | L. argentatus |
Also Featured In: Ireland Birds, European Birds
6. Black-Billed Gull
The Black-billed Gull, or Buller’s Gull, is a species of seabird found only in New Zealand. It has been classified as Near Threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources due to its small population size.
The gulls evolved from their ancestors who migrated from Australia around 250,000 years ago. Initially named “Gavia pomare” by Carl Friedrich Bruch in 1855, Sir Walter Lawry Buller renamed it Chroicocephalus bulleri after himself.
This medium-sized seabird has black legs and feet with greenish-yellow eyes that contrast against its predominantly brown plumage.
During breeding season they can be seen gathering on rocky islands near coasts throughout New Zealand where they nest amongst vegetation made up mostly of tussock grasses.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Laridae |
| Genus | Chroicocephalus |
| Species | C. bulleri |
Also Featured In: New Zealand Birds, Endangered Birds of New Zealand
7. Iceland Gull
The Iceland Gull is a medium-sized, Arctic-dwelling gull whose range includes Canada and Greenland, but not its namesake.
Its gray wings are marked with black primaries and white tips on the inner secondary feathers, distinguishing it from similar species like Larus hyperboreus, which has completely white secondary feathers.
It feeds mainly by scavenging or kleptoparasitism – stealing food from other birds – and actively pursuing smaller prey, such as crustaceans and insects in shallow waters near shorelines.
When breeding season arrives, they nest atop rocky outcrops found along coastal areas to provide adequate protection against predators while also giving them an unobstructed view of their surroundings for when danger approaches.
The Iceland Gull can be seen during winter months when visiting places like Iceland, where temperatures remain more hospitable than in its native habitat further north despite the cold weather.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Laridae |
| Genus | Larus |
| Species | L. glaucoides |
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8. Ring-Billed Gull
The Ring-billed Gull is a medium-sized seabird that can be seen throughout North America. Its head, neck, and underparts are white, while its back and wings are silver-gray in color.
It has a relatively short yellow bill with a dark ring around it and yellow legs.
The genus name for this species of gull comes from the Latin word ‘Larus,’ which refers to large sea birds or gulls, while the specific delawarensis refers to the Delaware River where these birds were first discovered.
These beautiful creatures thrive near coasts, lakeshores, and other bodies of water but have also been known to inhabit urban areas such as parks close by those watersides due to their adaptability towards human habitats.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Laridae |
| Genus | Larus |
| Species | L. delawarensis |
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9. Bonaparte’s Gull
Bonaparte’s gull is a small species of gull usually found in northern North America. It measures 28 to 38 cm (11 to 15 inches) long and has mainly white plumage with grey upperparts.
During the breeding season, it develops a slaty-black hood on its head. Both male and female Bonaparte’s gulls look alike; they are not sexually dimorphic like some other birds.
This bird was first described by George Ord in 1818, although Native Americans had likely been familiar with the bird for much longer than that.
Its scientific name, Chroicocephalus Philadelphia, means “grey-headed Philadelphia” due to its resemblance to the city’s official bird – the American Bald Eagle.
The Bonaparte’s Gull is an active hunter that feeds mostly on insects, invertebrates, and fish eggs or larvae when available.
Despite their size, these birds can often be seen flying far away from shorelines over open water, looking for food.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Laridae |
| Genus | Chroicocephalus |
| Species | C. philadelphia |
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10. Western Gull
The Western Gull is a majestic seabird found on the West Coast of North America, ranging from British Columbia to Baja California. It has a large white head and stands between 22-27 inches in size.
Its upper parts are gray, while its underparts range from brownish-grey to white depending on the age or sex of the bird.
The most distinguishing feature is its yellow feet, which set it apart from other gulls in the area, such as Larus livens.
When available, these birds feed by scavenging for food, including fish, mollusks, crustaceans, and even carrion.
They also nest near ocean shores, with their eggs hatching anywhere within 28 days after being laid. A beautiful sight to behold at any beach, these birds will surely captivate you with their grandeur.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Laridae |
| Genus | Larus |
| Species | L. occidentalis |
Also Featured In: Birds that Live in the Ocean , Common Southern Californian Birds
11. Glaucous-Winged Gull
The Glaucous-winged Gull is a large white-headed bird that belongs to the Larus genus. It has grey wings, which gives it its name – glaucescens – derived from Ancient Greek and describing this coloration.
This gull species prefers coastal areas, rarely venturing far away from the ocean’s waters. As such, they can be found in western Canada, Alaska, and parts of northern Asia down through Japan into Mexico.
The Glaucous-winged Gulls are often seen scavenging for food around beaches or fishing boats and nesting on islands off British Columbia during summer.
They have adapted very well to urban environments too; their intelligent nature making them quick learners when dealing with humans.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Laridae |
| Genus | Larus |
| Species | L. glaucescens |
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12. Franklin’s Gull
Franklin’s gull is a small species of seagull that breeds in the central provinces of Canada and certain states in the north of the United States. They migrate to Argentina, the Caribbean islands, and other parts further south during winter.
The Franklin’s Gull has an average length between 32-36 cm with white head plumage and darker grey wings.
Its genus name, Leucophaeus, derives from the Ancient Greek leukos, meaning ‘white’ and phaios for ‘dusky’, while its specific pipixcan comes from a Nahuatl word for ‘gull’.
In addition to their striking appearance, these birds are also known for their distinct call, which sounds like laughing or crying.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Laridae |
| Genus | Leucophaeus |
| Species | L. pipixcan |
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13. Heermann’s Gull
Heermann’s gull is a type of seabird found in the United States, Mexico, and British Columbia. It nests on Isla Rasa in the Gulf of California and can be seen near shores or out at sea, though rarely inland.
Named after Adolphus Lewis Heermann, a nineteenth-century explorer and naturalist, this species looks quite different from other gulls due to its brownish coloring with white spots around the wings.
It has bright yellow legs and red eyes circled by an orange ring – features that make it easily identifiable among bird watchers.
Their diet consists mainly of fish, but they will also eat insects, crustaceans, and mollusks if necessary.
Although not considered endangered yet their numbers have been decreasing over time so conservation efforts are imperative for these beautiful birds.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Laridae |
| Genus | Larus |
| Species | L. heermanni |
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14. Yellow-Legged Gull
The Yellow-legged Gull is a large bird found mainly in Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa.
It was previously considered to be either a subspecies of the Caspian gull or Herring Gull but has recently been identified as its own species.
The name Larus comes from Latin and likely refers to seabirds in general.
This species has yellow legs, a white head with dark eyespots on each side, gray wings with black tips, and pinkish legs.
They have curved bills that are yellow at the base, which turn red near the tip during the breeding season.
These birds feed mainly on fish but also scavenge for necessary food, such as insects, crustaceans, etc. The Yellow-legged Gull can often be seen along coastlines soaring high above fishing boats, searching for their next meal.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Laridae |
| Genus | Larus |
| Species | L. michahellis |
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15. Silver Gull
The Silver Gull is common in Australia, especially along the coastlines. It’s smaller than the Pacific Gull and has silver-grey wings with a white head and underparts.
Its scientific name is Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae, but it shouldn’t be confused with the Herring Gull, also called “Silver Gull” in many other languages (Larus argentatus).
During summer months, these birds can often be seen around fishing boats scavenging for discarded food or flying low over city parks looking for handouts from humans.
They are highly adaptable to their environment, making them quite successful at coexisting near human populations. These Australian seabirds have been known to live up to 25 years old.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Laridae |
| Genus | Chroicocephalus |
| Species | C. novaehollandiae |
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16. Swallow-Tailed Gull
The Swallow-tailed Gull is a large seabird found exclusively around tropical areas. It has a distinct hooked bill and white feathers with black tips on its wings and tail.
This bird’s scientific name comes from Latin and Greek words meaning “butcher,” referencing the shape of its bill, which could be used to hook meat or fish.
It is the only species in the genus Creagrus, making it an isolated figure amongst other gulls.
They typically live alone but can sometimes gather in flocks near food sources like squid eggs or garbage dumps close to shorelines, where they scavenge for food during low tide when exposed prey becomes accessible.
These birds are often seen soaring above coasts due to their unique ability for sustained gliding flight over long distances.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Laridae |
| Genus | Creagrus Bonaparte, 1854 |
| Species | C. furcatus |
17. Seabird
The Seabird is a unique bird that is well-adapted to its aquatic life. It has waterproof feathers that help keep it dry while diving for fish. The Seabird’s wings are long and slender, allowing it to fly gracefully over the water and dive precisely.
It has a sharp beak that is used to catch and eat fish and other small sea creatures. The Seabird also has strong legs and webbed feet that help it swim through the water.
These highly social birds and often nest in large colonies on remote islands. Unfortunately, many seabird species are threatened by habitat loss due to human activity, climate change, and plastic pollution in the ocean.
Conservation efforts are necessary to protect these amazing birds and ensure their survival.