Laridae bird family

Order Charadriiformes · 11 selected species

Browse verified BirdLens profiles selected for complete taxonomy, substantial descriptive coverage, and visual evidence. Open a species to compare its identification notes, distribution, behavior, sounds, and maps.

Aleutian TernOnychoprion aleuticusBeautiful, elegant tern of the Pacific Ocean. Breeding adults are silvery-gray overall with a black cap and crisp white forehead. Bill and legs are black. Nonbreeding birds are mostly white-faced with a messy dark nape; note dark bar on secondaries. Juveniles are washed with beautiful rich cinnamon tones for a brief period of time in late summer. Breeds primarily near the coast in Alaska and Russia. Winters in warm tropical waters of Southeast Asia and the Philippines, but exact wintering range is not well-known. Soft trilled calls are very different from the harsh and grating calls of most other terns.

American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusCommon and widespread large gull found throughout North America. Adults have a fairly pale gray back, pale eye, and dull pinkish legs. Takes four years for immatures to progress from mostly brown to fully white and gray adult plumage; intermediate plumages are often mottled and messy. Usually shows a dull pinkish base to the bill by the first winter, and develops a pale eye by the second winter. Some immature birds can fade to almost white, especially in their first or second summer, but they always show darker wingtips. Occurs inland and along the coast, frequenting fishing boats, beaches, lakes, and landfills. Often forms large flocks with other gulls.

Antarctic TernSterna vittataA light gray medium-sized tern. Black cap extends to bill in breeding plumage. Bill and legs red. In non-breeding birds, cap reduced to just the area behind the eye, bill has dull pinkish color, and underparts are white. Breeds in the circumpolar subantarctic region. Generally known to stay close to their breeding sites. Migrating Arctic Tern could occur in the same area, but not in breeding plumage, and would show more prominent black markings on outer primaries. White-fronted Tern can be distinguished by its larger body, lighter coloring, and longer, thinner, all-black bill.

Black-billed GullChroicocephalus bulleriPale gull endemic to New Zealand. White with light gray wings and back. Tips of wings have thin black border. Note long thin black bill and black or reddish-black legs (but legs turn bright red during late incubation and hatching). Non-breeding adults have a reddish tinge to the base of their bill, while immature birds have a light pink bill with a dark tip and pinkish legs. The species mostly breeds on inland braided riverbeds in the South Island, but a small proportion of the population breeds in the North Island and on the coast. Distinguished from similar Silver Gull by longer, thinner bill, less extensive black on outer wingtips, and lighter overall.

Black-legged KittiwakeRissa tridactylaSmall oceanic gull. Adults have solid black wingtips that look like they were dipped in ink. Also note translucent flight feathers, entirely yellow bill, and black legs. Nonbreeding birds have a dark ear patch and smudgy gray on the back of the neck. Immatures are boldly patterned with a black collar and “M” pattern on wings. Rather buoyant in flight, sometimes soaring in high arcs in windy conditions. Breeds at high latitudes across the Northern Hemisphere, primarily in large colonies on cliffs and other structures overhanging water. Spends the winter on the open ocean, sometimes seen from shore. Rare inland. Can gather in flocks during migration and winter, especially where food is abundant.

Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaThe most common small gull through most of North America, especially inland. Breeding adults have a black head, thin white eye arcs, bright red legs, light gray upperparts, and black wingtips. Note distinctive wing pattern on adults in flight: white wedge on the leading edge of the wing, with small black tips on the outer wing feathers. Nonbreeding adults and immatures have pinkish legs and a mostly white head with black ear spot. Immatures are more heavily marked with brown and black on the wings. Breeds near water in boreal forest; the only gull that makes a stick nest in a tree. Often seen in large flocks along beaches, bays, coves, and lakes during migration and winter. Feeds on small fish and invertebrates, often gracefully fluttering around and picking them off the water surface.

Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaThe most common small gull through most of North America, especially inland. Breeding adults have a black head, thin white eye arcs, bright red legs, light gray upperparts, and black wingtips. Note distinctive wing pattern on adults in flight: white wedge on the leading edge of the wing, with small black tips on the outer wing feathers. Nonbreeding adults and immatures have pinkish legs and a mostly white head with black ear spot. Immatures are more heavily marked with brown and black on the wings. Breeds near water in boreal forest; the only gull that makes a stick nest in a tree. Often seen in large flocks along beaches, bays, coves, and lakes during migration and winter. Feeds on small fish and invertebrates, often gracefully fluttering around and picking them off the water surface.

Common TernSterna hirundoMedium-sized tern found on open ocean, beaches, and large lakes. Adults have pale gray body and black cap. Bill color differs by subspecies: most have red bill with black tip, but some Asian birds have all-black bills. First-years show dark outer primaries, dark shoulder, and black restricted to back of neck. Similar to Forster's, Arctic, and Roseate Terns. Separated from breeding Forster's Tern by entirely gray upperwings; nonbreeding Forster's shows black ear patch. Somewhat longer-billed and shorter-tailed than Arctic Tern, with paler body. Shorter-tailed and overall darker than gleaming white Roseate Tern. Often found in large flocks, especially in late summer. Gives a harsh screeching call "KEEE-yurrrr."

Ivory GullPagophila eburneaA spectacular and highly sought-after Arctic gull. Unmistakable in all plumages. Adults are entirely gleaming white with black legs and a bluish-green bill with an orange tip. Immatures have a dark face and variable black spotting on the wings and tail. Stocky and short-legged, suggesting an odd white pigeon as much as a typical gull. Almost always restricted to icy areas in the High Arctic, very rarely wandering further south in the winter. Can be seen singly or in loose groups, especially when feeding at a seal carcass. Typically very confiding.

Roseate TernSterna dougalliiGraceful pale tern with extremely long forked tail. Named for faint rosy wash on belly. Bill color varies geographically; Old World birds arrive on breeding grounds with a black bill that turns to red, while New World birds arrive with a red bill that turns darker. Similar to Common Tern, but notably whiter wings. With practice, look for shallow, choppier wingbeats to distinguish from other tern species. Widespread across the globe but local, breeding in scattered colonies, often on offshore islands. Can be found mixed in flocks with other terns on beaches, mudflats, or estuaries. Listen for harsh two-parted call "chivick."

White-fronted TernSterna striataMedium-sized tern with pale gray coloring on upperparts and white on neck and underparts. Has black cap and long pointed black bill which are separated by a white band. Tail is long and quite forked. Cap in non-breeding birds is reduced above the eye, creating a white forehead. Juveniles are similar to adults in non-breeding plumage but have light brown mottling over their back. Common along coastlines around New Zealand, sometimes in very large flocks. Immature birds can disperse in winter to southeastern Australia. Arctic Tern and Common Tern are similar, but rarely seen in New Zealand; White-fronted Tern is larger and has lighter plumage.