Differences between Pelican and Seagull

Pelican and Seagull are two classes of birds that belong to the Pelecanidae and Laridae families respectively.

A symbol of wisdom, Pelican is a water bird with broad wings and a long neck. It is characterised by its unique bill, which has a gular pouch near the neck. The bird uses the pouch to scoop up its feed. A Pelican also has wide wings, short tail, and short legs. Its family consists of eight species, which can be either white or brown in appearance.

Seagull is the vernacular form for the bird Gull. Known to be clever, these birds are mostly large in size with grey or white plumage. They have big black marks on their head and wings. Their beaks are usually yellow in color with a red spot and a hook at the tip. Bigger Seagulls have pink legs, while the smaller ones have red or black legs. The birds have webbed feet. There are over 40 species of Gulls across the world.

Where are Pelican and Seagull found?

Pelicans are generally found near rivers, lakes, and coastlines. While the American White Pelicans prefer freshwater, the Brown Pelicans live near the coasts. Although native to Pacific, Atlantic, and Gulf coasts, Pelicans are lately found across the world, apart from Antarctica.

Gulls are water birds. They are typically found near coasts, especially during summers. However, they have become common even at inland waterways like rivers, reservoirs, and lakes. They can adapt to any region as long as there are food sources there. Consequently, Gulls are visible even inside cities and towns. Gulls exist everywhere in the world. They have been found even near Antarctica and the Arctic.

What do Pelican and Seagull eat?

Pelicans are chiefly carnivores and fish is their staple food. The Brown Pelicans dive into water to catch their prey. However, other species make formations to force groups of fish into shallow waters so that they can be scooped up with their bill. Pelicans also eat other animals like turtles, shrimps, crustaceans, lobsters, crabs, lizards, and frogs. They have also been seen eating smaller birds.

The natural diet of Gulls includes fish and other aquatic animals. Besides, it includes land animals like insects, worms, mice, and reptiles. However, Gulls are scavenging birds and can eat just about anything. They have been observed eating fruits, vegetables, and even chips, bread, and spaghetti. Gulls are one of the very few birds that can drink both salt and fresh water. The salt ducts and glands in their beaks act as desalination filters and help the birds to pass up excess salt.

Here are a few pointers about the eating patterns between Pelican and Seagull

• Both Pelican and Seagull eat Fish.
• Both Pelican and Seagull eat Frogs.
• Both Pelican and Seagull eat Lizards.
• Both Pelican and Seagull eat Snakes.
• Both Pelican and Seagull eat Turtles.
• Both Pelican and Seagull eat Squirrels.
• Pelican do not eat Gophers while Seagull eat Gophers.
• Baby Ducks are consumed by both Pelicanand Seagull.
• Mice are eaten by both Pelican and Seagull.

Size of Pelican and Seagull?

When it comes to size, Pelicans are large birds. They are generally 4.1-4.3 feet tall with a wingspan of 9-10 feet.. The size of Gulls depends on the species. The smaller ones are generally about one foot long, while the larger ones could measure about 1.5 feet. The average wingspan of the birds is 2.9-3.3 feet.

The average weight of Pelicans is 22-26 pounds. The male birds are larger and weigh more than the females. Dalmatian Pelicans are the largest among all species. They weigh about 30 pounds. while The weight of Gulls varies drastically for different species. The Little Gull weighs just about 4.2 ounces. On the other hand, the Great Black-beaked Gull weighs 3.8 pounds.

Where do Pelican and Seagull nest?

The nesting habit of Pelicans depend on the species and geography. Nests could be constructed on sand, soil, or depressions on flat sites. The birds use grass, feathers, and sticks to pack the nests. In the wild, Pelicans build their nests beneath trees and shrubs. In places like Florida, they are also observed to build nests on mango trees. The birds lay up to four bluish white eggs at a time and hatch them for a month. They incubate the eggs using their feet. The young ones fledge when they are around 10 weeks old although they leave the nest to join the group when they are 17-28 days old.

Gulls build their nests in their habitats. It could be at cliffs, coasts, islands, trees, and rooftops as long as they are safe, have food sources nearby, and inaccessible to predators. The nests are built using grass, twigs, and plant material. The eggs take about three weeks to hatch. The young ones are active and fledge when they are five to six weeks old.

How long do Pelican and Seagull live?

Pelicans can live for 15-25 years in the wild. The oldest living Pelican as in 2022 is 62 years old and lives at the Wellington Zoo, Australia.

Gulls have a short lifespan. They live for 8-20 years in the wild. The longest-lived Gull was from Denmark and lived for 33 years and eight months.

Are Pelican or Seagull migratory birds?

Pelicans prefer warmer climates. Therefore, in winters they migrate from northern Europe and North America. However, Pelicans living in warmer regions of Asia and Africa rarely migrate or only travel small distances.

Gulls are generally migratory. They move from northern hemispheres during winter to regions where there are abundant food sources. The birds from Canada and North America move to the tip of South America or parts of USA where the temperature is not freezing. The Black-Headed Gull migrates from UK to southern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Similarly, Gulls migrate from China to Thailand, and from Russia and Siberia to the Indian subcontinent. Some Gulls living on French and Spanish coasts and other warmer regions do not migrate. Additionally, Gulls that have settled in cities where they get easy access to food from human refuse, safe nesting places in rooftops, and warmth from buildings may not migrate.

Do Pelican and Seagull fly in flocks?

A flock of Pelicans is called a squadron, scoop, or pod. Pelicans are sociable birds that live and migrate in groups. The American White Pelicans also work together to capture fish. Pelicans are also known to breed in groups and build their nests in colonies.

A flock of Gulls is called a squabble, screech, scavenging, or colony. Gulls live in groups, consisting of a few birds or even up to a thousand. They unite to drive away predators. Besides, they adopt different body language and sounds to communicate with each other. Gulls stay with their flocks almost throughout the year.

Are Pelican or Seagull protected?

The White and Brown Pelicans are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and other conservation laws in the USA. Endangered species are protected in European countries like Bulgaria, Romania, and Greece and parts of Asia.

Seagulls, their nests, and eggs are protected under various laws across the world. Harming these in any way is considered a punishable offence.

Are Pelican or Seagull endangered?

Not all species of Pelicans are endangered. Brown Pelicans were on the verge of extinction in the USA due to exposure to pollutants. However, the banning of DDT has helped a thrive in their population since 1985. Brown Pelicans face threat in the Gulf coast due to the oil spill. Across the world, increased urbanization and destruction of habitat is posing danger to the population of Pelicans. Plastic and other wastes in rivers and seas are causing injuries to the Pelicans’ pouch that is used to scoop up fish and other aquatic animals.

Some species of Gulls are endangered. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the Chinese Black-Headed Gull and Relict Gull are vulnerable to extinction, while Heermann’s Gull and White-Eyed Gull are threatened. The population of Glaucous-winged Gull has declined by 50 percent in Georgia Basin, while the numbers of Gulls in Canada and the UK are also falling drastically. This has been attributed to loss of habitat, pollutants, and poor food quality.

Can Pelican and Seagull fly?

Pelicans are brilliant flyers. With their broad wings and the help of thermals, they can reach an altitude of 10,000 feet or more. They fly in groups through U and V formations to travel long distances. During migration, they travel 61-101 miles a day. The Great White Pelican is known to travel long distances and over massive seas for several days at a stretch.

Gulls are highly skilled in flying. They have expert control on wind and thermals, and can execute complex manoeuvres. They can fly at speeds of up to 28 miles per hour. The birds fly extremely long distances during migration. Gulls are capable of flying during the night as well. When there are changes in air pressure due to an oncoming storm or earthquake, Gulls gather in circles to regulate their focus and balance.

Can Pelican and Seagull swim?

Pelicans are water birds. They have webbed feet and are splendid swimmers. Some Pelican species even swim underwater to capture their prey.

Gulls are also adept swimmers. They can live comfortably both on land and water. They have webbed feet and can swim well both in sea and fresh waters. However, they do not swim too far in the seas. They usually swim in search of food.

Mating patterns among Pelican and Seagull

Pelicans start mating when they are three to five years old. Adult Pelicans grow a horn on tip of the bill besides gaining colorful plumage every breeding season. They usually breed in large colonies and in small islands where there is no fear of predators. The male bird protects the nest site for about three weeks before courtship. The bird also engages with other males in chasing the female. The breeding ground for North American White Pelicans are lake islands in north-central and western parts of North America. Similarly, Brown Pelicans breed at the tropical and subtropical coasts of Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

Gulls start mating when they are about four years old. The heads of the Gulls are in pure white, black, brown, or gray color in the breeding season. They are known to mate both inland and on coasts, however copulation occurs on land at breeding sites. The courtship involves complex dances, rituals, and articulations. The Gulls mate until the female can lay an egg. They build their nests in colonies. Both male and female partners incubate the eggs for about 30 days.

When is the mating season for Pelican and Seagull ?

The breeding season depends on the species and the location of the Pelican birds. North American White Pelicans breed during April-June, while the Australian Pelicans breed from winter until the beginning of spring. Brown Pelicans usually breed during March-April.

The breeding season for Gulls is usually March-July every year. The birds gather at breeding colonies few weeks before the onset of the season.

Do Pelican and Seagull mate for life?

Pelicans are monogamous only during the particular breeding season. They change partners every season.

Gulls are monogamous and stay with the same partner throughout their lives. They even return to the same breeding site every time.

How do Pelican and Seagull sleep?

Pelicans roost in groups to stay safe from predators and preserve body heat during winters. They usually sleep while standing on both legs or by lying on their bellies.

Gulls generally sleep during the night. However, they are scavengers and are known to be awake and flying even in the night. In natural habitats, they sleep on beaches, rivers, and lakes. The city-dwellers sleep in parks and rooftops. Gulls usually roost in groups to stay safe from predators.

Can Pelican and Seagull be eaten?

In general, Pelicans are not eaten by humans. The birds have an oily and unpleasant flavor that make them uneatable. However, there have been instances in the past when American White Pelicans had been roasted, boiled, and eaten. Africans are also known to consume Pelicans by marinating them with salt for a few days.

Gulls were consumed in the past by Inuit, Alaskan, Hare, and other cultures for survival. The meat of the birds is not considered appetizing. Further, it is illegal to hunt and eat Gulls under modern laws.

Can you hunt Pelican or Seagull?

Pelicans are not victims to largescale hunting. Several countries have conservation laws to prevent hunting. Nevertheless, the US Fish and Wildlife Service allows licensed hunting during the Pelican breeding season.

Cultures in the northern hemisphere have hunted Seagulls in large numbers in bygone times. Some cultures have killed the birds for food. However, Gulls are not permitted to be hunted under existing laws.

Can you feed Pelican or Seagull?

Feeding wild animals and birds in public places is not permitted in places like USA, Singapore, and Dubai. In captivity, Pelicans are fed fish, shrimps, and crabs.

It is illegal to feed Gulls in public in some countries like the USA and Singapore. In countries like the UK, France, and India where feeding Gulls is allowed, the governments request the people to not feed processed food to the birds as it will harm their health. Gulls are scavengers, but it is advised to feed them healthy food like fish, worms, mice, and meat.