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Silver Gull

(Larus novaehollandiae)
Alternative names: "Red-legged Gull", "Crimson-billed Gull", "Jameson Gull", "Mackarel Gull", "Seagull"; Misnomer: "Sea-pigeon"
Aboriginal name: "Manggiwarraywarraymal" [yuwaalaraay]
Size: 38-42 cm

Habitat
(for details refer to a field guide)

Silver Gulls are found all around the Australian seaboard, including Bass Strait and Tasmania and also the Coral Sea and Great Barrier Reef. Offshore they also trail fishing vessels. Inland they are most common in the south-eastern quarter of the Australian continent, especially the Murray-Darling Basin. Found regularly in basically all of VIC and NSW, the eastern half of SA and parts of the west coast of WA and parts of central QLD. After substantial inland rainfall they disperse over most of the Australian continent, except the most arid part from about the Nullarbor to the Kimberleys.

Silver Gulls are opportunistic scavengers that can live in vastly different habitats, from the open sea and seabird colonies to the semi-arid interior of Australia, but also manmade habitats such as rubbish tips and inner cities.

Sightings

Silver Gulls are seen frequently in our area, for example at Narrabri Lake, Narrabri, NSW, and other parts of inland Australia. In August 2011 at least 60 were found at Goran Lake, an ephemeral lake near Spring Ridge, about 30 km south of Gunnedah, NSW.

Also seen by us in many locations along the NSW coast in June 2009.

Also seen and photographed by C. Kellenberg at Coffs Harbour, NSW, in February 2009. Later seen by us in the same location in January 2011.

Photos

Frontal view of a Silver Gull preening itself on a dead trunk

Lateral view of an adult Silver Gull; photo courtesy of C. Kellenberg

Lateral view of two birds standing in shallow water

Resting adult Silver Gull

"Am I wearing the right shoes for tonight's fancy dress ball?"

Here three birds seen from behind

Silver Gull displaying its characteristic wing pattern during landing

Lateral view of an immature Silver Gull; photo courtesy of C. Kellenberg

Immature Silver Gull in flight

Food

Like all gulls, Silver Gulls are opportunistic. They will feed on anything from carrion and discarded entrails to fish, chicks of other bird species and eggs. They are often found around fish markets, fishermen and fishing boats, knowing there will be scraps to scavenge.

This immature bird has found the leftovers of somebody else's meal