Laughing Gull
Leucophaeus atricilla
Summer resident — THE boardwalk gullCommonFry-theft threat
How to ID it
- Small gull with jet-black head in summer
- Red bill and dark gray wings
- Cackling 'ha-ha-ha' call is distinctive
- Black hood fades to smudge in winter
Field marks at a glance
- Size
- small
- Head
- jet-black (summer), gray smudge (winter)
- Bill
- red bill
- Call
- cackling ha-ha-ha
Where & when
Summer resident — THE boardwalk gull
Learn more
Sources
- Facts — local research (plan.md), verified July 2026
- Reference — ebird.org
- Reference — audubon.org