Gulls and terns · Shorebirds
Caspian Gull
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Larus cachinnans
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Voice
Call
How to recognize it
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Large pale gull, slimmer and lighter than Herring Gull
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Long slender bill, sloping forehead, small head
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Long legs; back darker than Herring Gull
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Harsh laughing call, dropping to lower notes
About the species
The Caspian Gull moves with a long bill, a sloping forehead, and a leaner look than many other large gulls. Its call has a rough, laughing quality, and the same sound often carries from loose groups when one gets alarmed.
It spends much of its time around water, walking, resting, and feeding in company. It is a scavenger and hunter, and during the breeding season it often takes rodents such as ground squirrels after flying out over open ground.
It breeds near the Black and Caspian Seas, then spreads across parts of Central and Eastern Europe, while some move south in winter. It uses flat, low-lying ground by water for nesting, and also turns up on beaches, islands, and river or lake shores. Adults stay in some southern areas all year round.
Where to find
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Along river embankments, canal banks, and estuary edges — especially by sandy bars or bare little islands, Caspian Gull hangs close to the water and calls loudly.
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Near big bridges, harbor piers, and stone breakwaters — it perches on railings, posts, and other open vantage points while scanning for food.
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At landfill edges, fish markets, and around bins — watch for it feeding on the ground and gathering in noisy flocks.
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By pond shores and city lakes with reeds — it forages along the waterline and often lifts off with a harsh, laughing cry.
