Pelicans and seagulls are two common types of seabirds found near coastal areas. Both are scavengers and predators, feeding on a variety of marine life. However, their diets do differ in some key ways.
What do pelicans eat?
Pelicans are large birds with very long bills that have a hook at the end to help them catch fish. Their diet consists mainly of fish, but they also eat crustaceans, amphibians and occasionally seabird chicks and eggs. Here are some of the main things pelicans eat:
- Fish – The primary component of a pelican’s diet is fish. Their large bills allow them to scoop up many fish at once. Common fish they eat include mullet, herring, mackerel and anchovies.
- Crustaceans – Pelicans also eat crustaceans like shrimp, crayfish and crabs that they can scoop from the water.
- Amphibians – Frogs, salamanders and tadpoles may also be preyed on if the opportunity arises near shore.
- Seabird eggs/chicks – While not a primary food source, pelicans may eat eggs and chicks of other seabirds nesting near them.
Pelicans have a large throat pouch that can hold up to 3 gallons of water and fish. They use this pouch to catch and store prey before swallowing. It allows them to feed efficiently on schools of small fish like anchovies by scooping up more than they can eat in one gulp. Pelicans work together to herd fish into bait balls for easier feeding. Then they take turns plunging their bills into the fish balls to catch mouthfuls of fish in their pouches.
What do seagulls eat?
Seagulls are smaller birds and have more varied diets than pelicans. They are omnivores and opportunistic scavengers, eating anything they can find including insects, crustaceans, fish, garbage and carrion. Some of the main foods seagulls eat include:
- Marine invertebrates – Seagulls eat crustaceans like crabs, shrimp and barnacles that they find in shallow waters and tidepools. They also eat shellfish like clams, mussels and oysters.
- Fish – Small fish like herring, anchovies, mullet and sculpin are common fish prey. Seagulls may also steal fish from other birds.
- Worms and insects – Seagulls eat worms, insects and grubs they find while hunting in grassy areas.
- Garbage and carrion – Seagulls are omnivores and will scavenge any human food waste or carcasses they find.
- Eggs and chicks – They sometimes prey on eggs and chicks of other bird species nesting near to them.
Seagulls are land birds that have adapted to life near the ocean so they have a very varied diet combining terrestrial and marine food sources. Their opportunistic nature allows them to take advantage of many food options including scavenging trash or food waste from human habitats and activities.
Differences between pelican and seagull diets
While there is some overlap between pelican and seagull diets, there are also some key differences due to their adaptations and behaviors:
- Pelicans primarily eat fish while seagulls have a more varied diet including fish, invertebrates, garbage and carrion.
- Pelicans plunge dive from the air to catch fish while seagulls mostly scoop prey from the water’s surface or shore.
- Pelicans swallow fish whole while seagulls can tear apart prey into bites.
- Pelicans have throat pouches to catch more prey at once compared to seagulls.
- Seagulls are more likely to scavenge trash and stolen food than pelicans.
- Seagulls use their versatile beaks to pick up insects and worms from the ground but pelicans do not.
These adaptations allow the two bird species to take advantage of different feeding opportunities and minimize competition. Pelicans are specialist fish hunters, designed to dive and scoop many fish at once with their large bills and pouches. Seagulls are more generalist feeders with smaller bodies but more versatile beaks to pick up a variety food sources.
What do baby pelicans and seagulls eat?
Baby pelicans and seagulls have different dietary needs to adult birds while they are still developing:
Baby pelicans
Baby pelicans are fed regurgitated fish by their parents. Adult pelicans store pre-digested fish in their throats to make fish soup which they then regurgitate to feed newly hatched chicks. As the chicks grow, parents start regurgitating whole fish for the babies to start getting used to swallowing larger meals. After about a month, the parents will stop feeding the chicks and they must start diving and fishing for themselves.
Baby seagulls
Parent seagulls initially feed newly hatched chicks by regurgitating semi-digested food. As the chicks grow, the parents move to bringing back whole food like fish, crabs or worms to the nest for the babies to eat on their own. Baby seagulls may start wandering from the nest site after a month or two to start finding food on their own while still receiving supplemental feeding from the parents.
Special adaptations pelicans and seagulls have to eat their food
Pelicans and seagulls have evolved special adaptations to help them catch and eat their food:
Pelican feeding adaptations
- Huge beak to scoop up many fish at once
- Pouch under beak to hold fish until they are ready to swallow
- Swallow fish whole underwater to avoid competition
- Work together to herd fish into bait balls
- Plunge dive from heights up to 60 ft to catch fish
- Waterproof feathers to dive in cold ocean waters
- Hinged beak that they can open widely to scoop in fish
Seagull feeding adaptations
- Hooked beak to catch slippery prey like fish or crabs
- Opportunistic palate allows them to eat diverse foods
- Scavenging behavior allows them to eat scraps and garbage
- Ability to regurgitate food for young chicks
- Loud begging calls to steal food from other birds
- Webbed feet help them paddle in water and secure slippery foods
- Oil gland helps waterproof feathers like pelicans
Their distinct bill shapes and feeding strategies equip each species to better catch and handle their preferred prey.
Where do pelicans and seagulls look for food?
Pelicans and seagulls frequent similar marine and coastal habitats when looking for food but exploit them differently:
Where pelicans find food
- Open ocean – Plunge dive for fish up to 60 ft deep
- Coastal bays – Scoop up fish near surface in shallow waters
- Piers and jetties – Perch and dive for schooling fish
- Near commercial fishing boats – Follow boats and feed on discarded bycatch
Where seagulls find food
- Beaches and intertidal zones – Scavenge washed up marine life
- Fishing ports – Follow fishing boats and feed on scraps and discards
- Landfills and trash cans – Scavenge human food waste
- Agricultural areas – Feed on grubs and worms in fields
- Urban areas – Take food from trash cans and outdoor dining areas
Pelicans target areas with schooling fish like open water, bays and fishing sites. Seagulls exploit a wider range of habitats including those influenced by human activity and waste.
Conclusion
In summary, pelicans and seagulls have adapted to take advantage of the plentiful food sources available in coastal marine ecosystems. Pelicans are specialist fish feeders, using their large bills and pouches to scoop fish from the water with incredible efficiency. Seagulls are more omnivorous generalists, eating anything from fish and invertebrates to human scraps and waste. Both birds play important roles in the food web as predators and scavengers. Their adaptations allow them to coexist successfully by minimizing competition for food resources in the challenging coastal habitat.