The laughing gull (Leucophaeus atricilla) is a medium-sized gull of North America. It gets its name from its distinctive “laughing” call which sounds like a loud, grating “ha ha ha ha ha”.
Origin of the Name
The laughing gull was first described by the French naturalist Mathurin Jacques Brisson in 1760. He gave it the scientific name Larus ridibundus atricilla, placing it as a subspecies of the black-headed gull which was known by the name Larus ridibundus at the time.
The name ridibundus comes from Latin and means “laughing” or “jesting”. This refers to the black-headed gull’s raucous call. Since Brisson considered the laughing gull to be a subspecies, its scientific name also included this reference to the distinctive vocalizations of the group.
The English name “laughing gull” directly translates the scientific name Larus ridibundus atricilla into a common name highlighting the bird’s laughing calls. It has been known by this name since the late 1800s.
Description of the Laughing Gull’s Call
The laughing gull’s most familiar call is a loud, grating “ha-ha-ha-ha-ha” laugh. It sounds like a high-pitched giggling or chuckling. This is often given in flight or when the birds are sitting on the ground. The laughing calls are thought to function as contact calls to communicate with other gulls and identify territory.
Laughing gulls also make a variety of other calls including mewing sounds, chicks, whistles, and screams. Their diverse vocalizations distinguish them from other closely-related gull species. The laughing call remains their signature vocalization and the source of their common name.
Laughing Gull Range and Habitat
Laughing gulls breed along the Atlantic coast of North America from Maine to Texas. They winter further south, along the coast of Central America and northern South America. Their breeding habitat includes coastal marshes, ponds, lakes, and estuaries.
In the winter, they are found in similar coastal habitats including estuaries, mudflats, beaches, plowed fields, and lawns. Their range brings them in proximity to human populations where their distinctive laughing calls can be readily noticed.
Laughing Gull Identification
The laughing gull is a medium-sized gull measuring 38-43 cm (15-17 inches) long with a wingspan of 94-110 cm (37-43 inches).
Adults have a black head, white underside, gray back and wings, and black tips on the wings. The bill is black with a red spot near the tip of the lower mandible.
In breeding plumage, the head is mostly black with white “spectacles” around the eyes and a dark red bill. In the winter, the head is white with a dark grey “bandit mask” around the eyes and a dark bill.
Juveniles have a mottled black and brown back, a black bill, and a dark band near the tail tip. By their first winter, they resemble winter adults.
The laughing gull’s black head and red-spotted bill combined with its laughing call make this species distinctive.
Behaviors Contributing to “Laughing” Name
Laughing gulls exhibit several behaviors that contribute to their “laughing” common name:
- They have a loud, grating laugh-like call that stands out from other gull species
- They make this distinctive call very frequently in their breeding and wintering grounds
- Their call carries well and can be heard from long distances
- They often give their laughing call in synchronous groups which multiplies the sound
- They nest in large, noisy colonies where the laughs combine into a cacophony
- They readily nest near human habitations where people can observe their behaviors
The frequent, noisy laughing calls produced near human settlements led people to take note of this behavior and incorporate it into the gull’s common name.
Significance of the Laughing Call
The laughing call of the laughing gull serves several important functions:
- Contact call – keeps members of the colony in acoustic contact
- Coordinates breeding activities between paired birds
- Territory defense – identifies territory boundaries to deter intruders
- Mate attraction – part of courtship rituals to attract a mate
- Begging call – juveniles beg for food from parents with a laughing call
- Flock coordination – keeps the flock together while feeding and migrating
This versatile vocalization helps the laughing gull communicate effectively in a variety of situations. Its frequent use in human-inhabited areas allowed people to readily notice the behavior and incorporate it into the bird’s name.
Comparison to Related Gull Species
The laughing gull belongs to the genus Leucophaeus which includes several similar mid-sized gulls. Related species include:
- Franklin’s gull – has a high-pitched laughing call but not as frequently given or raucous as the laughing gull’s call
- Black-headed gull – gives a merry ringing call but lacks the harsh laughing quality
- Mediterranean gull – makes a loud “kre-kre-kre” barking call unlike the laughing gull’s vocalization
- Ring-billed gull – has a basic gull “keee-aah” type call without laughing notes
The laughing gull’s closest relative is Bonaparte’s gull, but Bonaparte’s lacks the distinctive multi-note laughing call, instead giving a single barking note.
Of these related mid-sized gull species, only the laughing gull has such a pronounced and extensive laughing vocalization.
Use of Name in Scientific Literature
The common name “laughing gull” has been widely used in scientific literature about this species since it was first coined. By highlighting the bird’s characteristic vocalization in its name, the moniker laughing gull has come to be universally accepted and recognized by ornithologists and birders alike.
A search for the term “laughing gull” on Google Scholar returns over 1,000 results in scientific books and journals. It is routinely used in research studies, breeding bird survey reports, bird guidebooks, and checklist publications. The name has stood the test of time since first being applied in the 1800s.
Conclusion
In summary, the laughing gull gets its distinctly human name from its loud, grating “ha-ha-ha” call that sounds uncannily like human laughter. This species frequently gives its signature laughing call in its coastal marsh breeding and wintering grounds, allowing people to readily notice the behavior. The call’s importance for communication led to it being incorporated into the bird’s common name. To this day, the laughing gull remains the only species known for its laughing vocalizations, cementing its place in ornithological history with this uniquely anthropomorphic moniker.