Yellow-Legged Gull Diet and Size: Feeding Habits, Predators, and Measurements

Up until around 20 or so years ago, the Yellow-Legged Gull wasn’t recognised as a species of bird. The British Ornithologists Union formally recognised Yellow-Legged Gulls as a separate species in 2005 even though many bird watchers had been recording sightings for many years before.

Although there are not many recorded breeding pairs in the UK, there are plenty of Yellow-Legged Gulls to be seen outside of the breeding season. They tend to flock with other gull species foraging for food in large colonies.

To find out more about these interesting birds, keep reading.

The Dietary Habits Of The Yellow-Legged Gull

Let’s start by looking at the dietary habits of the Yellow-Legged Gull.

What Does A Yellow-Legged Gull Eat?

Like most gulls, the Yellow-Legged Gull eats a wide variety of food from meat, fish, plants and pretty much everything in between. They will eat;

• Fish
• Insects
• Molluscs
• Crustaceans
• Rodents
• Birds
• Carrion (dead animals and fish)
• Human Food Waste

They are opportunistic scavengers and can be found on rubbish tips, in fields, on the coast and even stealing food from other seabirds out at sea.

They are known to swoop down at high speeds and steal chips and ice creams from the hands of unsuspecting humans walking around beach fronts and even in urban areas.

What To Feed A Baby Yellow-Legged Gull? 

Both parents feed their chicks on regurgitated foods such as fish, aquatic molluscs, crustaceans, insects, small rodents and birds and other food sourced locally to the nesting site.

These protein rich foods are vital in helping the young chicks grow and develop into healthy adults.

Breeding Habits Of Yellow-Legged Gulls

Male Yellow-Legged Gulls often present food to females to display their food gathering skills and their ability to provide for any potential family. They also use specialised calls and sounds to attract the attention of the female.

As well as these specific calls, the males will also perform a number of visual displays including tossing their heads and spreading their wings in order to show their physical prowess and agility. Another way males attract females is by establishing and defending a prime nesting territory.

Do Yellow-Legged Gulls Mate For Life?

In most cases, Yellow-Legged Gulls form long lasting monogamous relationships that can last their entire lifetime. However, although these long-term monogamous relationships are common in the species, there are exceptions.

There have been reported cases where pairs separate as a result of unsuccessful breeding or the death of a breeding partner. Having said that, the majority of Yellow-Legged Gulls form monogamous partnerships that last for many seasons and often all of their lives.

The Size & Weight Of Yellow-Legged Gulls

Now let’s look at the size and weight of the Yellow-legged Gull for the purposes of identification.

How Much Does A Yellow-Legged Gull Weigh?

An average adult Yellow-Legged Gull weighs anywhere between 550 to 1,600 grams. Which is similar to a large bar of soap or a large cantaloupe melon.

How Big Is A Yellow-Legged Gull?

A typical adult Yellow-Legged Gull is around 55 to 67 cm in length with a wingspan of around 120 to 155 cm. Which is roughly the same size as a Herring Gull which can make identification difficult from a distance.

Are Yellow-Legged Gulls Under Threat?

Yellow-Legged Gulls are not currently considered to be under threat. They are classified as birds of “least concern” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and a bird of “least concern” by the Species of European Conservation Concern (SECC).

However, in the UK they are Amber listed by the UK Birds of Conservation Concern. This indicates that Yellow-Legged Gulls are recognised as having an increased level of conservation concern in the UK.

Like many other birds, Yellow-Legged Gulls do face a number of challenges that could impact their numbers which include; pollution, habitat loss, climate change and the reduction in fish numbers due to overfishing.

Having said that, Yellow-Legged Gulls are a highly adaptable, resourceful and resilient bird. They are opportunistic scavengers and can find food in many places that other birds fear to venture.

This has helped them to become relatively stable in numbers worldwide.

What Eats A Yellow-Legged Gull?

As Yellow-Legged Gulls are fairly large and aggressive seabirds they have few natural predators. However, that doesn’t mean they are free from the threat of predation.

They are at their most vulnerable during the breeding season and the nesting period in particular. With many of their eggs, chicks and younglings taken by;

• Birds Of Prey (including eagles, hawks and falcons)
• Mammals (including foxes, rats, and domestic cats)
• Other Gulls (Other members of the breeding colony or opportunistic gulls of other species)
• Reptiles (Snakes can be problematic in some regions)

Their primary defence mechanism is the ability to gather a large mob of others of their species who aggressively attack and drive away any potential predators from nesting sites.

Where Can I See Yellow-Legged Gulls In The UK?

Yellow-Legged Gulls can be seen in many areas of the UK mainly during late summer and autumn. Some of the main areas that have reported large sightings include;

• The Thames Estuary
• The Kent Coast
• The Sussex Coast
• Hampshire
• Devon
• Cornwall
• Norfolk
• Suffolk
• South Wales

Yellow-Legged Gulls are not always limited to coastal areas and can often be seen in urban areas not too far away from coastal or intertidal sites. They can typically be found among flocks of other gulls like Herring Gulls and Lesser Black-Backed Gulls.

I once saw a Yellow-Legged Gull steal an ice cream cone right out of a little girl’s hand in Paignton (Devon)!

SEE ALSO: Spoonbill Life Cycle

Frequently Asked Questions