Birds and wildlife

Common Gull

Larus canusGroup: Gulls and ternsUK Conservation status:Red

How to identify

The Common Gull looks like a smaller version of the Herring Gull, with greenish legs and a yellow bill. Despite its name, it is not at all common in most inland areas, though it can be found in large numbers on the coast and in some eastern counties. They are now seen more often in towns and on housing estates in winter.

Call

Common Gull

Niels Krabbe / xeno-canto

Key features to look out for

  • Common Gulls look like smaller versions of Herring Gulls, with greenish legs and a yellow bill 
  • They have white spots on their wing tips
  • They’re generally between 40 and 42cm long
  • Their calls sound like loud, high-pitched squealing
  • Juvenile Common Gulls have pink legs. Their legs turn greenish as they mature
Common Gull, adult on lake
Common Gull
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Conservation status

Despite their name, they’re not particularly common, and are even on the Red List of Conservation Concern. 

Where and when to see them

Common Gulls can be seen all year round. Look out for them on farmland, wetland, and coastal areas.

Key

  1. Resident
  2. Passage
  3. Summer
  4. Winter
* This map is intended as a guide. It shows general distribution rather than detailed, localised populations.
UK distribution map for Common Gull
  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Behaviour

They feed on worms, insects, fish, carrion, and rubbish.

Nesting

They nest mainly in the north of England and Scotland where the females lay two to three eggs on a patch of grass usually within marshland or around lakes.

Common Gull resting on a beach in Norfolk
Common Gull
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Key facts