seagull

/ˌsiˈgʌl/

/ˈsigəl/

Other forms: seagulls

A seagull is a common, noisy shorebird. If a bird swoops down and steals your French fries as you're walking along the boardwalk, it was probably a seagull.

Although the large gray and white birds that follow lobster boats and congregate on beaches are officially called gulls, most people use the colloquial seagull. These sea birds have wide wingspans and webbed feet. They live in large groups and thrive alongside humans, scavenging trash and food waste in addition to eating fish and crustaceans. Described as "opportunistic feeders," seagulls are also highly adept at stealing the fish and chips right off your tray.

Definitions of seagull

1. noun

   mostly white aquatic bird having long pointed wings and short legs
   synonyms: gull, sea gull

   types:

   Larus canus, mew, mew gull, sea mew

   the common gull of Eurasia and northeastern North America

   Larus marinus, black-backed gull, cob, great black-backed gull

   white gull having a black back and wings

   Larus argentatus, herring gull

   large gull of the northern hemisphere

   Larus ridibundus, blackcap, laughing gull, pewit, pewit gull

   small black-headed European gull

   Pagophila eburnea, ivory gull

   white Arctic gull; migrates as far south as England and New Brunswick

   kittiwake

   small pearl-grey gull of northern regions; nests on cliffs and has a rudimentary hind toe

   type of:

   larid

   long-winged web-footed aquatic bird of the gull family