Despite their growing urban populations, seagulls are considered endangered in the UK. Seagulls are monogamous and mate for life, returning to the same nesting sites every year. They have several adaptations that help them thrive, including the ability to excrete salt via glands above their eyes after drinking seawater, sharing incubation duties, and possessing superior night vision compared to humans.

1. Top 10 Seagull Facts
You Didn’t Know
(Probably)
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Scotland
01324 625 925
www.scoticawildlifesolutions.co.
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2. LATIN NAME: LARUS
ARGENTATUS
NAME: HERRING GULL
Seagull
Profile
UK BREEDING PAIRS: 140,
000
WINTERING UK BIRDS: 740,
000
WINGSPAN: 135 CM – 145 CM
RSPB STATUS: RED

3. 1. SEAGULL
RSPB
STATUS
Despite their growing numbers in our
cities and towns, seagulls are deemed to
be endangered in the UK, given a Red
Status by the RSPB.

4. 2. SEAGULL
LIFESPAN
Seagulls can live a long life, with reports
of lifespans ranging from 35 – 49 years
old. On top of that, urban gulls tend to live
5% longer than their coastal cousins.

5. 3.
MONOGA
MY
Seagulls are very monogamous. Once
they pair up they stay with their partners
for the rest of their lives.

6. 4. HIGH NEST
FIDELITY
The Herring Gull are well known for
having a high nest site fidelity. Once they
have a place to breed they return to it
year after year.

7. 5. SALTY SUPER
POWERS
When seagulls are forced to drink sea
water they have a super power that allows
them to excrete the dangerous salt levels
through glands above their eyes.

8. 6. SHARED
WORK
The incubation of seagull chick eggs is
actually shared between the pair of mating
birds. Well done dads!

9. 7. SUPER VISION
PART 1
European seagulls have extremely good
vision in daylight and superior vision to
humans during the night time.

10. 8. SUPER VISION
PART 2
New studies have now shown that seagulls
are also capable of seeing ultraviolet light,
another new super power!

11. 9. GULLS ARE
GALLUS
GRIFTERS
Seagulls are omnivore opportunists! They
scavenge on landfill sites, gnaw through
plastic bags and steal the eggs of their fellow
gulls and other species.

12. 10. IRISH
DANCING
SEAGULLS
European seagulls have been observed Irish
dancing! They rhythmically drum their feet on
the ground to vibrate worms and other
sources of food out of the soil. They are
sometimes known as ‘worm charmers’.

13. WANT TO KNOW
MORE?
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or call us 24/7 on 01324 625 925