Silver gull. Credit: 0ystercatcher

The silver gull or seagull is distinguishable by its white body, pale silver-grey wings and red legs and beak. It ranges up to 45 centimetres in size. The juvenile has black legs and a black beak and some white striping on its wings.

Where

You’ll see these gulls all over the park - hovering to snatch your food scraps and eyeing off fishers and boats for discarded catch.

Feeding

The gulls’ natural diet includes worms, fish, insects and crustaceans. Please don’t feed these birds as they become dependent on humans for food and then suffer in winter when fewer people are visiting.

Breeding

Silver gulls nest in colonies on islands, lining the ground with seaweed or gathering in dead trees. Both parents share nest building, incubation and feeding duties.

Sounds

A sharp voice consisting of a variety of calls - the most common is a harsh kwee-aarr.