The seagulls are flying birds that have a long beak, varying between white and gray plumage, sometimes wearing a patch on his head.
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They are distinguished by always living near the coast , being quite normal to see them in fishing cities, ports, etc. where they look for food.
In total, there are about 44 species of seagulls scattered around the world, possessing similarities and great differences, adapting very well to the region where they live.
Seagulls feeding
The first thing you should know is that they are carnivorous animals ; They eat all kinds of fish and shellfish , as well as vegetables, insects, worms, small birds, rodents, and sometimes even dead animals .
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Their presence on the coast is due to the fact that they hope that the fishermen, after discarding the rest of the fish that are not suitable for sale, will throw them into the sea, being a luxury dish for the seagulls , which quickly come for their food.
If they do not find fish , they will look for other prey, capturing them with their beaks and throwing them to the ground from above , to be able to tear them apart more easily.
Their complex digestive system not only allows them to swallow many foods efficiently, but they can even drink sea water (which is salty) and then filter it and turn it into fresh water .
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How do they do it? Well crying . Yes, you read that correctly, they use what are known as ” salt glands “, located in their eyes to remove the saltpeter from the water and make it drinkable.
How do seagulls live?
They are characterized by being strongly social birds , creating bonds between their congeners and helping each other, both to protect themselves from other predators and to search for food.
They live in colonies in large groups , preferring cliffs or dunes, where they will build their nests to later incubate their eggs for a month . They can have between two and three eggs per gull , feeding the hatchlings while they continue to incubate the rest of the eggs.
You have to be careful when spotting a group of seagulls , as they are known to be very territorial, being quite common for them to attack anyone who dares to approach, registering attacks even on people .
Something peculiar about the pairing of seagulls is that they remain with the same couple throughout their lives , being easy to recognize each other through the voice of one member and the other. They do not stay in the same place all year, but they do return to the same place to lay their eggs .