Photo: markaharper1 / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Grey Gull
Leucophaeus modestus
Grey Gull (Leucophaeus modestus) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of South America.
Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Grey Gull (Leucophaeus modestus) is a member of the Laridae family found in South America. Adults weigh 344 g.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Charadriiformes
- Family Laridae Gulls, Terns, Skimmers
- Genus Leucophaeus
- Species modestus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 344 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Laridae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Not Evaluated
Not Evaluated
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Grey Gull hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of open sea and coastal waters, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Grey Gull is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Grey Gull (Leucophaeus modestus) is a species of bird in the Laridae family, part of the order Charadriiformes. It occurs naturally across South America. Its distribution covers SA Atacama Desert (n Chile).
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 344 g, with a wing length of about 31.8 cm and a tail of around 11.7 cm.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Grey Gull?
The Grey Gull is a large bird that weighs around 344 g.
Where does the Grey Gull live?
The Grey Gull is found across South America with a range covering SA Atacama Desert (n Chile), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Grey Gull belong to?
The Grey Gull (Leucophaeus modestus) belongs to the Laridae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Grey Gull eat?
The Grey Gull hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Grey Gull migrate?
The Grey Gull is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
What sound does the Grey Gull make?
1 real field recording of the Grey Gull — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Laridae
Least Concern
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
More in Shorebirds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern