Laughing Gull, in Emerald Isle

Here are a few shots of a Laughing Gull on a beach in Emerald Isle on Bogue Banks Island, North Carolina. If you’ve ever strolled along an Atlantic coast beach, chances are you’ve encountered this gull, the most common black-hooded gull on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of North America.

The Lauging Gull is easily recognizable by its striking black head during the breeding season – these were taken in late August, just after breeding, thus the less black plumage. The lead photo above is a juvenile.

The name?

From their distinctive, raucous calls that sound like laughter. They don’t smile though. I sat and watched for a long time hoping to catch one in the act and found it a complete waste of time. (But it was entertaining.)

Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla) in brief (with an assist by WordPress AI but double-checked by me):

• Size: Approximately 40-43 cm (15.7-16.9 in) in length.
• Diet: Omnivorous; feeds on fish, crustaceans, insects, and discarded human food.
• Habitat: Coastal areas, beaches, marshes, and estuaries along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of North America.
• Physical Description: Notable for its black head during breeding season, white body, and grey wings. Juveniles have mottled brown plumage.
• Breeding: Breeds primarily from late spring to summer; nests in colonies on the ground near water.
• Conservation Status: Not currently at risk; populations are stable.
• Unique Behaviors: Known for their distinctive, laughter-like calls; often seen foraging in groups or scavenging.
• Range and Migration: Breeds along the Atlantic coast from New Jersey to Florida and migrates to the Gulf of Mexico and coastal regions of Central America in winter.

Photos from 31 August, 2013. Last post update 24 July 2025.