Source and Additional Information

Animal Diversity Web
 
Elizabeth Sherman
Some rights reserved

California gulls gather in groups of 2,000 to 40,000 birds. They breed while in these colonies. Young birds sometimes exhibit play behaviors, the most popular play action is picking up sticks, dropping them, and then picking them up again. This activity is expressed by young birds but almost never by adults.

While on land the birds walk and sometimes hop when moving to an elevated location. They run when they are about to take off for flight, but they are also able to jump directly into flight. Another form of locomotion for California gulls is swimming, which the birds do when catching aquatic prey. The birds also dive into water to capture their meals.

They preen their feathers with their bill and feet and they often preen while bathing. While bathing the gulls stretch their wings and shake off water to distribute it throughout the body.

California gulls spend about 10 to 20 percent of the day sleeping. The birds sleep on one leg, or sitting with their legs underneath the body. (Winkler, 1996)

Home Range

We do not have information on home range for this species at this time.

Communication and Perception

Source and Additional Information

Animal Diversity Web
 
Elizabeth Sherman
Some rights reserved

Vocalized sounds serve as the main form of communication for California gulls. Young chicks use begging calls to let the parents know when they are hungry. As the birds get older the sounds increase in volume. When a predator enters the colony the gulls issue a warning call by dropping the pitch of the sound and stressing the second syllable. The mew call is a series of soft low notes used during courtship, courtship feeding, and copulation. When a mate returns to the nest to exchange duties with its partner, the mew call is also used. Furthermore, the mew sound is used in territorial conflicts. When the female gull wants her mate to feed her, the begging call is used. The copulation call is used solely by the male during copulation. California gulls use an alarm call of several sharp notes in response to the threat of a predator. When chasing or attacking a predator, the birds sound the charge call. If a bird is captured and struggling to escape, it emits the shrill waver, a hoarse thin call. (Bent, 1939; Winkler, 1996)

Members of this species also communicate through their posture. If a gull feels threatened, it holds its wings slightly away from its body. As a California gull prepares to attack, it gets into the lunge position. Pulling grass from the ground is another threat to other animals. Fights between individuals usually occur between two birds of the same sex. These physical demonstrations are often used along with calls. (Winkler, 1996) (Bent, 1939; Winkler, 1996)