Laughing Gull (Larus atricilla)

The most common gull in the summer at the North Carolina beaches, this gull's voice can break out in a maniacal laughter sound. In the winter, nearly all Laughing Gulls head south and leave NC.

	Laughing Gull (Larus atricilla) Ft. Fisher in New Hanover Co., NC 18 May 2008 In summer breeding plumage, Lauging Gull heads are all black. White crescents are found above & below their eyes, and bills are deep blood red.
	Laughing Gull (Larus atricilla) Ft. Fisher in New Hanover Co., NC 18 May 2008
	Laughing Gull (Larus atricilla) Ft. Fisher in New Hanover Co., NC 18 May 2008

	Laughing Gull (Larus atricilla) Miami-Dade Co., FL 6 Oct 2006 In winter, the heads of Laughing Gulls are not black.
	Laughing Gull (Larus atricilla) Collier Co., FL 8 Oct 2006
	Immature (1st winter) Laughing Gull. Collier Co., FL 8 Oct 2006 Note the wings feathers have not yet molted to the adult's smooth gray appearance.
	Laughing Gull (Larus atricilla) Collier Co., FL 31 Dec 2007

	Laughing Gulls (Larus atricilla) Figure 8 Island, New Hanover Co., NC 24 Jan 2014
	Laughing Gulls (Larus atricilla) Figure 8 Island, New Hanover Co., NC 24 Jan 2014

Cape Hatteras, Dare Co., NC
27 May 2006

Breeding plumage adults (right) have full black heads, while immature and non-breeding Laughing Gulls lack all black heads.

Laughing Gull (Larus atricilla)
Ft. Fisher, New Hanover Co., NC
16 May 2007

Back to Jeff's Bird Page | Back to Jeff's Nature Page

Created on ... June 29, 2006 | Updated on ... December 8, 2008 | jeffpippen9@gmail.com