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| Laughing Gull
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| Larus atricilla Linnaeus, 1758 |
The Laughing Gull, Larus atricilla, is a medium-sized gull of North and South America. It breeds on the Atlantic coast of North America, the Caribbean, southern California, USA, and northern South America. Northernmost populations migrate further south in winter, and this species has occurred as a very rare vagrant to western EuropeFor the band of the same name, see Europe (band . Europe is a continent forming the westermost part of the Eurasian supercontinent. Europe is bounded to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the west by the Atlantic Ocean, to the south by the Mediterranean Se.
This species is easy to identify. The summer adult's body is white and its wings are much darker grey than all other gulls of similar size except the smaller Franklin's GullThe Franklin's Gull Larus pipixcan is a small gull. It breeds in central provinces of Canada and adjacent states of the northern USA. It is migratory, wintering in the Caribbean, Peru and Chile. Although it is uncommon on the coasts of North America, it n, and have black tips. Its bill is red. The hood is mostly lost in winter. The Laughing Gull's name is derived from its raucous call.
Laughing Gulls breed in coastal marshes and ponds as far north in large colonies. The large nest, made largely from grasses, is constructed on the ground. The 3 or 4 greenish eggs are incubated for about three weeks. These are omnivores like most Larus gulls, and they will scavenge as well as seeking suitable small prey.