Gulls of Autumn
As the chill and damp of autumn return to Vancouver, a few species of gulls become more common around the city.
Many people I talk to are often surprised to learn there is more than on type of “seagull”. However, if you start paying any attention to gulls you’ll quickly notice you’re able to differentiate the common species where you live.
Short-billed Gull
One of the gulls you’ll see more often is the Short-billed Gull – until a few years ago known as a Mew Gull.
These gulls are one of our smaller gulls, significantly smaller than the Glaucous-winged Gulls most Vancouverites are familiar with. They’re also significantly more skittish than their larger cousins.
Read more about these birds and ways to ID them at All About Birds.
Short-billed Gull
Another Short-billed Gull looking damp and dishevelled.
Ring-billed Gull
With a black ring on their bill and intense pale yellow-white eyes, adult Ring-billed Gulls are hard to miss.
Read more about them at All About Birds.
Ring-billed Gull
This gull had found a crab-apple washed up on the beach and was snacking on it. Most gulls are omnivorous and will try eating any food they can find.
Glaucous-winged Gull juvenile
The black bill, grey legs, and uniform colouration are good field marks that this is a juvenile Glaucous-winged Gull which was born this year.
Caspian Tern
Caspian Terns aren’t gulls, but they are in the same family of birds – the Laridae – which includes gulls, terns, and skimmers.
You’ll probably only see these birds out over water where they plunge-dive to catch fish.
Read more about them at All About Birds.
Until next time.