Baby Seagulls: All You Need to Know (with Pictures)

Seagulls, or gulls as they are commonly known, are an extremely common sight in most parts of the world. They live on every continent, including the High North Pole and the South Pole!

Despite their widespread distribution and abundance, little gulls are still very rare. This article will explore everything there is to know about baby seagulls – and there will be tons of photos of baby seagulls too!

What does the little seagull look like?

Little seagulls are known for being very cute and fluffy. Their appearance does depend on the species, as there are 54 species of gulls, but most gull chicks are covered with a soft spotted or mottled brown down that is thick and fluffy.

Sometimes they are spotted only on the head, but often they are spotted or spotted all over the body.

However, it does make a difference. Lesser kittiwakes are whiter or grayer than brown and have mottled gray wings. Most gull chicks do look similar, though, with slight differences in size, color, and proportion.

two seagull chicks

How big is the little seagull?

It really depends on the species. The smallest gull, the little gull, has a body length of about 30 cm, a wingspan of about 61 to 78 cm, and a weight of 68 to 162 grams.

The largest great black-backed gull has a body length of 64 to 79 cm, a wingspan of 1.5 to 1.7 meters, and a weight of up to 2.5 kg.

Chicks of these species can vary widely in size, even though they look very similar!

There is little data on the size of different gull chicks, but judging by the size of the eggs, most gull chicks are probably similar in size to ducklings. Of course, this will vary – for example, baby gull chicks will be small.

How much does a little seagull weigh?

There is little consistent data on the weight of juvenile gulls. A study of the weight of herring gulls found that the average weight at five days old was about 50 grams.

50 grams is probably a reliable average weight for many medium to large gulls, including herring gulls, common gulls, and lesser black-backed gulls. Since size and weight vary widely between different gulls, smaller gull species will be much lighter.

black-headed gull chick

What do juvenile seagulls look like?

Juvenile gulls take about four years to mature, at which point they resemble a fully fledged mature gull.

Juvenile gulls remain predominantly brown or mottled gray throughout their first year of life, often with copious amounts of furry down on their bodies and necks.

In their second year, these spots begin to fade, especially on the upper wings, as more white and gray appear. The beak also begins to change color, gradually turning pink-yellow.

By the third year, the gull’s head begins to change to its adult color, usually white. Brown feathers start to turn gray and white. For many species, the beaks of young birds will turn yellow.

Juvenile herring gull with mottled plumage

What is the name of the little seagull?

Young gulls are often called gull chicks. They don’t have special names like owls and kittens.

What is a group of little seagulls called?

Early on, gull parents are extremely protective of their chicks, keeping them from socializing in a flock of young gulls. This continues until the bird has grown its feathers and joins a flock of gulls, often with other juveniles.

This can take a while, and very young gulls are often found alone and isolated for a period of time before being attached to larger flocks of adult birds.

A flock of adults or juveniles is often called a flock or flock.

Three little seagull chicks, huddled together in a nest

What do little seagulls eat?

Baby gulls eat anything their parents feed them, which actually includes, well, pretty much anything! Most of these foods will be regurgitated by the parents.

Seagulls are not fussy omnivores, eating everything from human waste to fish and plants. Their primary diet actually depends on the type of food that is abundant in the environment.

Gull parents typically feed their chicks 3 to 6 times a day, which is infrequent compared to most other birds. Food includes anything the parents deem soft enough for the chicks to eat, including soft or water-soaked food pieces as well as partially digested and regurgitated food.

A seagull is feeding a newly hatched chick

How do seagulls feed their chicks?

Both parents in gulls are usually involved in feeding the chicks, feeding them soft crumbs and regurgitated food. For the first week or two, chicks will call their parents almost constantly, and they will return at various times of the day to feed the chicks. Reflux feeding continues at least until the gull chicks leave the nest, usually after 5 to 6 weeks.

In some species, such as herring gulls, parental feeding does not stop when gull chicks have fledged. Herring gulls may nurse their newborn chicks for another two months or so, and the chicks may spend most of the year with their parents.

A seagull feeding their two chicks

What do seagull eggs look like?

Most gull eggs are well camouflaged in olive, green, or brown-green shades. Some species have darker eggs while others have greener eggs, but broadly speaking they all look very similar and tend to blend well into their mossy or rocky environments.

Three common seagull eggs in a nest, beginning to hatch

How long does it take seagull eggs to hatch?

Gull eggs tend to hatch after about 30 to 32 days of incubation. In some species, such as kittiwakes, this may be extended to 28 days.

When do seagulls lay eggs?

In most of Europe, gulls tend to spawn around late April or May. In the US, it’s usually a little earlier in March or early April.

This standard breeding season begins to become more relaxed as gulls move closer to the equator or other warmer regions. Swallow-tailed gulls, for example, live around the Galapagos Islands and do not have a defined breeding season, breeding year-round.

How fast do seagull chicks grow?

Seagull chicks grow rapidly, doubling their body weight in a few days. They are usually very active within a few days of birth and tend to roam around the nest, sometimes over great distances.

This may lead people to think that the chick has been abandoned by its parents, especially if it pops up in a place that seems out of place or unsafe, but rest assured, gull parents will be vigilant and aware of this, most likely Will bring this wayward bird back to safety!

Three seagull chicks growing quite fast

How big is the Seagull clutch?

Most gull species lay between 2 and 4 eggs, with 3 being a consistent average. If three chicks hatch, only one or two may survive.

When can little seagulls fly?

Depending on the species, most juvenile gulls are ready to fly after 6 to 8 weeks. 45 days is a typical average.

Chicks are usually unable to fly normally for a few days, which is a dangerous time as they may end up in vulnerable places. Parents encourage flight by vocalizing and temporarily withholding food.

juvenile seagull in flight

When do baby seagulls leave their nests?

Even after a few days of hatching, baby gulls are usually very active and will tend to leave the nest to roam nearby.

However, they do not normally leave the nest for at least 4 to 8 weeks, and some species will remain around their nesting sites for as long as 6 months.

Do Seagulls Reuse Nests?

Many species of gulls, such as the Franklin’s, stern-backed and white-backed gulls, are highly migratory, leaving their breeding grounds each winter for warmer regions. They usually return to the exact same breeding grounds with great accuracy. Seagulls’ sense of smell may play a role in their incredible navigation skills, research has found.

Gull nests are very durable, but they rarely last a full year, so breeding pairs usually build a new nest each year, which takes about two weeks. If the nest is intact, they may reuse the nest or nesting material.

A family of Ringbilled Gulls and two chicks

How long does the little seagull stay with its parents?

It really depends on the species, as some gull chicks gain some independence from their parents for about 6 to 8 weeks, while other gull chicks spend most of the year with their parents.

Herring gulls are one such species – herring gull parents will even continue to regurgitate their chicks until they are well past the fledgling stage. Juvenile gulls tend to hang around their parents and nearby flocks for a while until they reach maturity. These are patient and long-lived birds that do not reproduce for about 3 to 4 years after birth.

A baby seagull is exploring not far from the nest

Do little seagulls drink water?

In the wild, chicks will get most of their water from food.

Seagulls are one of the few birds that can efficiently filter salt from salt water, allowing them to drink both fresh and salt water. Most birds have this nasal gland, found near the eyes, but it is inactive in the vast majority of bird species except seabirds, which spend most of their time at sea.

In gulls, this gland effectively removes sodium chloride (salt) from the blood, allowing them to drink both sea and fresh water.