Seagull (Silver Gull)

Description:

The Silver Gull (Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae) also known simply as "seagull" in Australia, is the most common gull seen in Australia. It has been found throughout the continent, but particularly coastal areas. The South African Hartlaub's Gull (C. hartlaubii) and the New Zealand Red-billed Gull (C. scopulinus) were formerly sometimes considered to be subspecies of the Silver Gull. As is the case with many gulls, it has traditionally been placed in the genus Larus but is now placed in the genus Chroicocephalus. The Silver Gull should not be confused with the Herring Gull, which is called "silver gull" in many other languages (scientific name Larus argentatus, German Silbermöwe, French Goéland argenté, Dutch zilvermeeuw) but is a much larger, robust gull with no overlap in range. The Silver Gull has a sharp voice consisting of a variety of calls. "The most common call is a harsh 'kwee-aarr'.

Habitat:

Silver gulls are found in all states of Australia.[4] It is a common species, having adapted well to urban environments and thriving around shopping centres and garbage dumps. Silver Gulls have twice been recorded in the USA; one bird was shot in August 1947 at the mouth of the Genessee River, Lake Ontario and another one was photographed in Salem County, New Jersey, in autumn 1996. Both are nowadays believed to have escaped from captivity (AOU, 2000).