Gull
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2008-07-12T11:43:11Z
SP-KP
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/* List of gulls in taxonomic order */
{{otheruses}}
{{Redirect|Seagull}}
{{Taxobox
| name = Gulls
| image = Black-headed Gull - St James's Park, London - Nov 2006.jpg
| image_width = 250px
| image_caption = [[Black-headed Gull]]
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]]
| classis = [[Aves]]
| ordo = [[Charadriiformes]]
| subordo = [[Lari]]
| familia = '''Laridae'''
| familia_authority = [[Nicholas Aylward Vigors|Vigors]], 1825
| subdivision_ranks = Genera
| subdivision =
''[[Larus]]''<br>
''[[Kittiwake|Rissa]]''<br>
''[[Ivory Gull|Pagophila]]''<br>
''[[Ross's Gull|Rhodostethia]]''<br>
''[[Sabine's Gull|Xema]]''<br>
''[[Swallow-tailed Gull|Creagrus]]''
}}
'''Gulls''' (often informally '''Seagulls''') are [[Aves|birds]] in the [[family (biology)|family]] Laridae. They are most closely related to the [[tern]]s (family [[Sternidae]]) and only distantly related to [[auk]]s, and [[skimmer]]s, and more distantly to the [[wader]]s. Most gulls belong to the large [[genus]] ''[[Larus]]''.
They are typically medium to large [[Aves|bird]]s, usually grey or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have stout, longish [[beak|bill]]s, and [[webbed feet]]. Gull species range in size from the [[Little Gull]], at 120 g (4.2 oz) and 29 cm (11.5 inches), to the [[Great Black-backed Gull]], at 1.75 kg (3.8 lbs) and 76 cm (30 inches).
Most gulls, particularly ''Larus'' species, are ground nesting [[carnivore]]s, which will take live food or scavenge opportunistically. The live food often includes [[crab]]s and small fish. Apart from the [[kittiwake]]s, gulls are typically coastal or inland species, rarely venturing far out to sea. The large species take up to four years to attain full adult [[Feathers|plumage]], but two years is typical for small gulls.
Gulls—the larger species in particular—are resourceful and highly intelligent birds, demonstrating complex methods of communication and a highly developed social structure; for example, many gull colonies display [[mobbing behaviour]], attacking and harassing would-be predators and other intruders.<ref>[[John Alcock (behavioral ecologist)|Alcock, J.]] (1998) Animal Behavior: An Evolutionary Approach (6th edition). Sinauer Associates, Inc. Sunderland, Massachusetts. ISBN 0-87893-009-4</ref> In addition, certain species (e.g. the [[Herring Gull]]) have exhibited tool use behaviour. Many species of gull have learned to coexist successfully with humans and have thrived in human habitats. Others rely on [[kleptoparasitism]] to get their food. The urban gull population in the United Kingdom has been growing quickly, probably due to laws such as the [[Clean Air Act 1956]] which prohibited the burning of garbage by local [[landfill]] owners, thus increasing the availability of food for the gulls[http://www.ehj-online.com/archive/2000/may2003/may1.html][http://www.birdnomore.com/gulls.htm].
Two terms are in common usage among gull enthusiasts for sub-groupings of the gulls:
* '''Large white-headed gulls''' for the 16 [[Herring Gull|Herring Gull-like]] species from [[Great Black-backed Gull]] to [[Lesser Black-backed Gull]] in the taxonomic list below
* '''White-winged gulls''' for the two Arctic-breeding species [[Iceland Gull]] and [[Glaucous Gull]]
Hybridisation between species of gull occurs quite frequently, although to varying degrees depending on the species involved (see [[Hybridisation in gulls]]). The taxonomy of the large white-headed gulls is particularly complicated.
In common usage, members of various gull species are often referred to as ''sea gulls'' or ''seagulls''. This name is used by the layman to refer to a common local species or all gulls in general, and has no fixed taxonomic meaning.
The [[American Ornithologists' Union]] combines [[Sternidae]], [[Stercorariidae]], and [[Rhynchopidae]] as subfamilies in the family Laridae, but recent research <ref>'''Paton''', Tara A. & '''Baker''', Allan J. (2006): Sequences from 14 mitochondrial genes provide a well-supported phylogeny of the Charadriiform birds congruent with the nuclear RAG-1 tree. ''Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution'' '''39'''(3): 657–667. {{DOI|10.1016/j.ympev.2006.01.011}} (HTML abstract)</ref><ref>'''Paton''', T. A.; Baker, A. J.; Groth, J. G. & Barrowclough, G. F. (2003): RAG-1 sequences resolve phylogenetic relationships within charadriiform birds. ''Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution'' '''29''': 268-278. {{doi|10.1016/S1055-7903(03)00098-8}} (HTML abstract)</ref><ref>'''Thomas''', Gavin H.; Wills, Matthew A. & Székely, Tamás (2004): A supertree approach to shorebird phylogeny. ''[[BMC journals|BMC Evol. Biol.]]'' '''4''': 28. {{doi|10.1186/1471-2148-4-28}} [http://www.pubmedcentral.org/picrender.fcgi?artid=515296&blobtype=pdf PDF fulltext] [http://www.pubmedcentral.org/articlerender.fcgi?artid=515296#supplementary-material-sec Supplementary Material]
</ref> indicates that this is incorrect.
==List of gulls in taxonomic order==
This is a list of gull [[species (biology)|species]], presented in [[taxonomic order]].
[[Image:Seagul Brighton-eating.jpg|thumb|right|Gulls can be aggressive]]
[[Image:Seagull_Hovers.jpg|thumb|A gull hovering]]
[[Image:Dabirds.jpg|thumb|Gulls flying in the city]]
[[Image:Gull is eating a crayfish 2.jpg|thumb|A gull eating a [[crayfish]]]]
[[Image:Gull scavenging at the US Capitol by Swatjester.jpg|thumb|right|A gull scavenging for food]]
[[Image:Gull attacking coot.jpg|thumb|right|A gull attacking a [[coot]]]]
'''Genus ''[[Larus]]''
*[[Dolphin Gull]], ''Larus scoresbii''
*[[Pacific Gull]], ''Larus pacificus''
*[[Belcher's Gull]], ''Larus belcheri''
*[[Olrog's Gull]], ''Larus atlanticus''
*[[Black-tailed Gull]], ''Larus crassirostris''
*[[Grey Gull]], ''Larus modestus''
*[[Heermann's Gull]], ''Larus heermanni''
*[[White-eyed Gull]], ''Larus leucophthalmus''
*[[Sooty Gull]], ''Larus hemprichii''
*[[Common Gull]] or Mew Gull, ''Larus canus''
*[[Audouin's Gull]], ''Larus audouinii''
*[[Ring-billed Gull]], ''Larus delawarensis''
*[[California Gull]], ''Larus californicus''
*[[Great Black-backed Gull]], ''Larus marinus''
*[[Kelp Gull]], ''Larus dominicanus'' (called "Southern Black-backed Gull" or "Karoro" in New Zealand)
*[[Glaucous-winged Gull]], ''Larus glaucescens''
*[[Western Gull]], ''Larus occidentalis''
*[[Yellow-footed Gull]], ''Larus livens''
*[[Glaucous Gull]], ''Larus hyperboreus''
*[[Iceland Gull]], ''Larus glaucoides''
*[[Thayer's Gull]], ''Larus thayeri''
*[[Herring Gull]], ''Larus argentatus''
*[[Heuglin's Gull]], ''Larus heuglini''
*[[American Herring Gull]], ''Larus smithsonianus''
*[[Yellow-legged Gull]], ''Larus michahellis''
*[[Caspian Gull]], ''Larus cachinnans''
*[[East Siberian Herring Gull]], ''Larus vegae''
*[[Armenian Gull]], ''Larus armenicus''
*[[Slaty-backed Gull]], ''Larus schistisagus''
*[[Lesser Black-backed Gull]], ''Larus fuscus''
*[[Great Black-headed Gull]], ''Larus ichthyaetus''
*[[Brown-headed Gull]], ''Larus brunnicephalus''
*[[Grey-headed Gull]], ''Larus cirrocephalus''
*[[Hartlaub's Gull]], ''Larus hartlaubii''
*[[Silver Gull]], ''Larus novaehollandiae''
*[[Red-billed Gull]], ''Larus scopulinus''
*[[Black-billed Gull]], ''Larus bulleri''
*[[Brown-hooded Gull]], ''Larus maculipennis''
*[[Black-headed Gull]], ''Larus ridibundus''
*[[Slender-billed Gull]], ''Larus genei''
*[[Bonaparte's Gull]], ''Larus philadelphia''
*[[Saunders' Gull]], ''Larus saundersi''
*[[Andean Gull]], ''Larus serranus''
*[[Mediterranean Gull]], ''Larus melanocephalus''
*[[Relict Gull]], ''Larus relictus''
*[[Lava Gull]], ''Larus fuliginosus''
*[[Laughing Gull]], ''Larus atricilla''
*[[Franklin's Gull]], ''Larus pipixcan''
*[[Little Gull]], ''Larus minutus''
'''Genus ''[[Kittiwake|Rissa]]''
*[[Black-legged Kittiwake]], ''Rissa tridactyla''
*[[Red-legged Kittiwake]], ''Rissa brevirostris''
'''Genus ''Pagophila''
*[[Ivory Gull]], ''Pagophila eburnea''
'''Genus ''Rhodostethia''
*[[Ross's Gull]], ''Rhodostethia rosea''
'''Genus ''Xema''
*[[Sabine's Gull]], ''Xema sabini''
'''Genus ''Creagrus''
*[[Swallow-tailed Gull]], ''Creagrus furcatus''
The Laridae are known from [[fossil]] evidence since the Early [[Oligocene]], some 30-33 [[mya (unit)|mya]]. A fossil gull from the Middle to Late [[Miocene]] of [[Cherry County]], [[USA]] is placed in the prehistoric genus ''[[Gaviota]]''<!-- JSystPaleontol5:1. -->; apart from this and the undescribed Early Oligocene fossil, all prehistoric species were tentatively assigned to the modern genus ''Larus''. Among those of them that have been confirmed as gulls, ''"Larus" elegans'' and ''"L." totanoides'' from the Late Oligocene/Early Miocene of southeast [[France]] have since been separated in ''[[Laricola]]''<!-- AnnNHMusWien104A:237. Geobios36:719. JSystPaleontol5:1. -->.
==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:Seagull dropping clam.jpg|Gull dropping a clam
Image:Flock of gulls - various species.jpg|An assorted flock of gulls
Image:Goeland adulte et juvénile.jpg|Lesser Black-backed Gull - adult gull and her chick
Image:Gull ca usa.jpg|[[Western Gull]] at [[Monterey, California|Monterey]], [[United States]]
Image:Hatchling Gull chick in egg.jpg|Newly-hatched [[Lesser Black-backed Gull]] chick at [[Steep Holm]], [[Bristol Channel]]
Image:Baby_gull.jpg|Gull chick at [[Trondheim]], [[Norway]]
Image:Larus ridibundus.jpg|A [[Black-headed Gull]] at [[Devon]], [[England]]
Image:Creagrus furcatus.JPG|The [[Swallow-tailed Gull]], [[endemism|endemic]] inhabitant of the [[Galápagos Islands]]
Image:Creagrus furcatus flight.jpg|Swallow-tailed Gull in flight, displaying wing patterns
Image:herring.gull.northdevon.arp.750pix.jpg|[[Herring Gull]] on the [[North Devon]] coast, England
Image:Seagull on sale pier.jpg|[[Silver Gull]] at [[Sale, Victoria|Sale]], [[Australia]]
Image:Chesapeake Bay gulls soaring.jpg|[[Ring-billed Gull]]s at [[Chesapeake Bay]]
Image:Larus-delawarensis-021.jpg|[[Ring-billed Gull]] at [[Toronto, Ontario]], [[Canada]]
Image:peserina2.jpg|[[Dolphin Gull]] at [[Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego]]
Image:Seagull_lakes_entrance.jpg|[[Silver Gull]] at [[Lakes Entrance]]
Image:Gulls in air13.jpg|[[Black-tailed Gull]]s feeding in flight
Image:Heermann's Gull breeding adult.jpg|[[Heermann's Gull]]s have mostly greyish plumage with a white head during the breeding season.
Image:Lava gull.jpg|[[Lava Gull]] at [[Santa Cruz Island (Galápagos)|Santa Cruz Island]], [[Galapagos]]
Image:Oeufs goeland argenté.jpg|[[Herring Gull]] eggs
Image:Larus smithsonianus-USFWS.jpg|[[American Herring Gull]] on its [[bird nest|nest]]
Image:Seagull_1.jpg
Image:Seagull_3.jpg
</gallery>
==References==<!-- Cladistics14:1) -->
{{reflist}}
==Bibliography==
* [[Grant, Peter J.]] (1986) ''Gulls: a guide to identification'' ISBN 0-85661-044-5
* Howell, Steve N. G. and Jon Dunn (2007) ''Gulls of the Americas'' ISBN 0-618-72641-1
* '''Olsen''', Klaus Malling & '''Larsson''', Hans (1995): ''Terns of Europe and North America''. [[Helm Identification Guides|Christopher Helm]], London. ISBN 0-7136-4056-1
== External links ==
{{wiktionarypar|gull}}
{{commonscat|Laridae}}
* [http://www.xs4all.nl/~calidris/gullindex.htm Rudy's Gull-index]: Pictures of less well-known plumages of large gulls
*[http://ibc.hbw.com/ibc/phtml/familia.phtml?idFamilia=66 Gull videos] on the Internet Bird Collection
[[Category:Gulls|*]]
[[Category:Bird families]]
[[Category:Heraldic birds]]
[[Category:Seabirds]]
[[ar:نورس]]
[[br:Gouelan]]
[[ca:Laridae]]
[[da:Måge]]
[[de:Möwen]]
[[eo:Mevo]]
[[et:Kajaklased]]
[[es:Gaviota]]
[[eu:Kaio]]
[[fa:مرغ نوروزی]]
[[fr:Goéland]]
[[fy:Seefûgels]]
[[gd:Faoileag]]
[[ko:갈매기]]
[[hr:Galebi]]
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[[it:Laridae]]
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[[ja:カモメ族 (Sibley)]]
[[no:Måser]]
[[nn:Måsefamilien]]
[[nrm:Mauve]]
[[oc:Laridae]]
[[pl:Mewy]]
[[pt:Gaivota (ave)]]
[[ru:Чайковые]]
[[scn:Laridae]]
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