How Long Do Seagulls Live? (Complete Guide)

Seagulls—actually just seagulls—are among the most tenacious and successful birds in the world. Seagulls inhabit nearly every corner of the globe and thrive in cities, towns and urban areas. Despite their reputation for being ferocious, aggressive, and bloodthirsty, seagulls are misunderstood, and they’re incredibly intelligent. Here we want to answer the question; how long do seagulls live?

Gulls are tough birds and they also live a long life. For example, the European herring gull typically lives 20 years, but many records of living to 30 years or more have also been documented. Similar lifespans are observed in all other gull species – most wild gulls live at least 8 to 20 years or so.

The maximum recorded age for many gull species exceeds 30 years. Even little gulls, the smallest of the gull family, can live around 15 years or more. Gulls have a slow life cycle and many do not breed until they are at least 3 or 4 years old. Their long lifespan may be due to the fact that many gulls have few natural predators as adults.

Read on to learn more about the lifespan of these super-tough and oft-misunderstood birds!

Most gulls live anywhere from 8 to 20 years

What is the typical lifespan of a seagull?

Seagulls are long-lived, with an average lifespan of 8 to 20 years, but many live longer.

Once adults, herring gulls have an annual survival rate of about 90%, which is high. This means that adult gulls are likely to see their average lifespan before dying of natural causes.

How long can seagulls live in the wild?

Most gulls live at least 8 years, but the maximum age of various targets can be in their 30s:

• European Herring Gull: 12 to 20 years. The longest recorded lifespan of a herring gull is 49 years, the longest ever recorded lifespan of any seagull. Other banded European herring gulls live until about 35 years old.
• Black-headed Gull: 10 to 20 years. The oldest black-headed gull is 32 years and 3 months old (measured in 2018).
• Ring-billed Gull: 8 to 16 years old. The oldest ring-billed gull is 28 years old.
• Common Gull: 8 to 16 years old. A variety of common gulls can live into their 30s.
• White Gull: 8 to 15 years. The oldest must be at least 23 years old.
• Kittiwake: 8 to 12 years old. The oldest is 28 years and 6 months.

The oldest recorded seagull is the Herring Gull at 49 years old!

How Do Most Seagulls Die?

Most seagulls die of natural causes such as fatigue and exhaustion in old age.

Gulls are alert and resilient birds, and once they are adults, the chances of them being killed by predation are low. Gulls form large conservation flocks and are known to hunt down larger birds of prey, essentially keeping them from hunting and sending them on their way!

However, young gulls are very vulnerable until they reach juvenile status and are at risk from foxes, raccoons, petrels, kebabs, mink and cats.

When it comes to disease, seagulls do get infected with bacteria, viruses and parasites, and because they migrate thousands of miles, they tend to accelerate the spread of avian diseases between continents. In fact, seagulls can even spread diseases into human food and water sources.

In 2016, National Geographic published an article warning of how seagulls carry highly drug-resistant forms of Escherichia coli from one region to another.

Juvenile egret standing on rock in water

What is the life cycle of a seagull?

Gulls have a long life cycle and usually do not breed until they are 2 to 4 years old. The larger species of gulls do not reach full sexual maturity until they are 4 years old, and spend most of their juvenile time roaming the sea until they find a suitable place to settle down and find a mate, and then usually mate for life.

In addition, juvenile gulls can stay with their parents for several months after fledgling, sometimes not willing to leave the family until the winter or early spring after the breeding season.

• Incubation time: 25 to 32 days
• Fledgling time: 40 to 60 days
• Sexual Maturity: 2 to 4 years
• life: 8 to 20+

Ring-billed Gull in flight

What are the natural enemies of seagulls?

Seagulls have few predators and are strong, alert, intelligent and aggressive. They form large flocks and have defensive behaviors that help them fend off bird predators such as hawks, kebabs, and giant petrels.

At sea, however, seagulls are also vulnerable. Some of their major predators include sharks, seals, and other large marine predators. Seagulls are most likely to be caught while floating in shallow water.

Gull chicks are very vulnerable during their first year, with only 25% to 50% surviving to their first birthday. Once chicks develop their wings, they tend to leave their parents, which is when they are most vulnerable. Gull chicks may look “lost” but their parents are likely watching, so if you see a chick that seems a bit abandoned, think twice about removing it!

Once gulls reach 1 year of age, their survival rate increases dramatically year-on-year. Studies generally show that in some of the larger gull species, the year-over-year survival rate of adults is above 80% (95%).

Baby gulls are vulnerable in first year of life

How big was the oldest seagull?

The oldest gull (herring gull) was 49 years old. That does look ancient, and could place seagulls among the world’s longest-lived birds.

This is according to the Animal Aging and Longevity Database.

Various species of seagulls have been recorded to live into their 30s. For example, some common gulls can live to be 32 to 33 years old. Unfortunately, there is little data on lifespan of gulls in captivity – if gulls are kept in captivity, who knows how old they can live if cared for properly and fed an optimal diet.

Seagulls are long-lived, but they’re still no match for their distant relatives, the albatross, which can live into their 60s and beyond! Even so, seagulls have an impressive lifespan.

Close-up of a common seagull

How long can a seagull live without eating?

Seagulls eat a lot – they can sometimes eat up to 20% of their body weight in a day!

Many gulls spend most of the day looking for food or eating, and they are excellent opportunistic eaters – so they often steal chips, fish and other leftovers from unsuspecting shore visitors!

Given gulls’ voracious appetites, they certainly prefer to eat every day. They may survive without food for 2 to 3 days before they start to become tired and lethargic. Gulls have a fast metabolism, which helps them stay active, alert and warm in cold weather. Therefore, they need to be fed regularly.

How do seagulls survive the winter?

Seagulls have a layer of insulating down that keeps them warm, and their feathers are dense, smooth and oily to help retain moisture and heat. They also have a strong, active metabolism that helps retain body heat.

Seagulls are excellent migrators, with some migrating thousands of miles each year to winter in warmer climates. Seagulls can fly an amazing 7,500 miles (12,000 kilometers) per year!

However, gulls still live as far north as the high Arctic and as far south as Antarctica, and they are exceptionally hardy and hardy birds. They are highly adapted to cold climates and have developed a variety of strategies for keeping warm, including roosting and moving together in large groups rather than staying in one place for too long.

Black-headed Gull with Alternating Feathers

Do seagulls mate for life?

Most (if not all) gull species are usually monogamous and couple for life. However, if a pair of seagulls fails to produce successful offspring, they may divorce. If the mate dies or is abandoned, the gulls will re-match with a new mate.

For the most part, gulls are devoted to their mates and enjoy an equitable relationship with regard to hatching and rearing duties.

Seagull Lifespan FAQs

Can Seagulls Live 30 Years?

Many species of gulls have been recorded to live to be over 30 years old. Several common gulls have reached 32 years; black-headed gulls have been observed to survive into their 30s, as have yellow-footed gulls. Herring Gulls are among the longest-lived gulls, with records showing they can live to be over 40 years old.

How long does the common seagull live?

Several species of common gull can live into their 30s. For example, ‘Emma’, a Norwegian common gull, was 33 months old when she was observed alive. She is not too far from a Danish common gull 5 months her senior.

How long do seagulls live in the UK?

The UK is home to about 6 species of gulls, increasing to 11 during migration. Black-headed gulls, herring and common gulls are the three most common species in the UK, and they can all live to be over 20 years old. The Seagulls could get 30 in the UK!