Differences between Emu and Seagull

Emu and Seagull are two classes of birds that belong to the Dromaiidae and Laridae families respectively.

Emu is the second largest bird in the world. It is largely depicted in Australian mythology and folklore. The bird is characterized by its long neck and legs. The legs are powerful with each foot having three forward-facing toes. The plumage of Emus is dishevelled. It is usually greyish brown with black tips for absorption of ultra violet radiation. The feathers are silky, soft, and absorb water. The tail feathers are however stiff and are used to intimidate predators. Emus are terrestrial and have small vestigial wings. Emus have exceptionally large eyes that are red with black iris. They have two eyelids – while one blinks, the other blocks dust. The beaks are short and strong. They are used for plucking rough foliage.

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 Emu and Seagull found?

Emus live in woodlands, deserts, eucalyptus forests, and regions covered with shrubs. The birds exist only in Australia. Two of their subspecies once existed in King Island and Tasmania. They are now extinct.

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 Emu and Seagull eat?

Emus are carnivores although they primarily eat plants. The birds typically eat healthiest parts of the plants, such as fruits, berries, flowers, leaves, grains, and seeds. When accessible, they also eat insects, lizards, snakes, mice, and rodents.

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 Emu and Seagull

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

Size of Emu and Seagull?

When it comes to size, Emus are only smaller than Ostriches. They are about 5.8 feet in height.. 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.

Emus are well-built birds. The male birds weigh about 71 pounds, while the females weigh around 81 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 Emu and Seagull nest?

Emus nest on the ground as they cannot get on top of trees or buildings. The nests rest on the surface of the ground or in shallow craters dug up by the partners. The male Emu usually builds the nest with grass, twigs, and leaves. The nests are typically one to two meters in diameter. Emu eggs are dark green with blue spots when they are laid. They eventually turn greyish or brownish owing to exposure to sunlight. The male bird incubates the eggs continuously without food or water and loses considerable weight by the time the eggs hatch. The young ones emerge in about 56 days. The chicks of Emus are five inches tall and about 17.6 ounces in weight when they hatch. They are born with brown and white stripes that fade after three months. During this time, they will not be able to regulate their body temperature. Hence, their father takes care of them for nearly six months. The chicks stay with the father and their siblings for about one and a half years.

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 Emu and Seagull live?

The average age of Emus is 10-20 years in the wild. In captivity, they live up to 35 years. The oldest known lived Emu was 38 years old.

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 Emu or Seagull migratory birds?

Emus are nomadic birds. Their migratory pattern depends on their location in Australia. The birds from western parts relocate to south-west in winters and north-east in summers. However, the Emus in eastern parts of the country do not migrate long distances. They do not follow a standard migratory pattern. It is understood that food sources and weather are the chief factors that drive the migration of Emus. They either migrate in pairs or in flocks.

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 Emu and Seagull fly in flocks?

A flock of Emus is known as a mob. These birds are solitary, shy, and curious. They may also fight amongst themselves. They live alone most of the time. The exception is when they pair up during the breeding season. Also, when they have to travel in quest for new food sources, they form large flocks.

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 Emu or Seagull protected?

Emus are protected in Australia. Capturing Emus from the wild is illegal. However, they can be reared in farms with a licence. Emus are commercially bred in the country as trading of their meat, eggs, feathers, and oil is widespread.

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

Are Emu or Seagull endangered?

Emus exist in large populations in Australia. They are listed as species of least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. Emus however face several threats. Birds like eagles and hawks attack Emu chicks, while snakes and other predators steal eggs from the nest. Migrating Emus often get killed in large numbers at dog fences of agricultural lands. Further, some of them also die in road accidents. Forest fires, drought, and loss of habitat due to urbanization and claiming of forest land for cropping are other threats that these birds confront.

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 Emu and Seagull fly?

Emus are flightless birds. Their bone structure does not support flying. Further, they are too heavy to lift themselves for aviation. Emus are nevertheless great sprinters. Their powerful legs, calf muscles, and toes permit them to run as fast as 30 miles an hour. They flap their wings for balance while running. Emus travel long distances in search of food and for migration. They do this on foot, covering nearly 310 miles each time. On a daily basis, the birds commute about 15 miles.

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 Emu and Seagull swim?

Emus are not regular swimmers. However, they can swim well if they have to with the help of their strong legs. They enjoy swimming and waters. They also like to bathe by rolling themselves in shallow waters and shaking up to remove water from their soaked feathers.

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 Emu and Seagull

Emus become sexually mature when they are 1.5 to two years old. During courtship, the male makes the first move by encircling the female with his dances and head movements. When the female accepts the proposal to mate, she strides around the male by making specific calls. The partners strut together, surround each other, dance together, tilt their heads bashfully, and flutter their feathers as part of mating. The female lays an egg per three to four days in the nest built by her partner. She generally lays 30-50 eggs each breeding season. The male incubates the eggs and takes care of the hatched chicks by feeding and protecting them.

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 Emu and Seagull ?

Mating season for Emus occur during February-June although they start pairing in December and January.

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 Emu and Seagull mate for life?

Emus are monogamous socially as they live with their partners most times of the year. However, after mating with a male and laying eggs at his nest, the female mates with new partners and lays multiple clutches of eggs at different nesting sites. During this time, her original partner carries out his duties of incubating the eggs and raising his chicks. For this reason, Emu symbolizes fatherhood in the folklore and culture of Australia.

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

How do Emu and Seagull sleep?

Emus retire for the day after sunset. They lay down on the ground to sleep. While the younger birds stretch their neck perpendicular to the body, the adults generally fold the neck, resting it on their back. The eyes remain closed when the birds are in slumber. While asleep, Emus also arrange their feathers in a such way that if it rains, the water flows down. The birds do not sleep uninterruptedly until sunrise. They wake up once in about two hours for defecating and feeding.

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 Emu and Seagull be eaten?

Emu meat is widely consumed and relished. It is considered to be rich in proteins, vitamin C, and iron. While it is illegal to capture Emus from the wild for their meat, rearing of the birds for meat and eggs is permitted.

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 Emu or Seagull?

The laws in Australia do not allow hunting of Emus in the wild. However, culling of the birds on private properties under a licence is permitted.

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 Emu or Seagull?

In captivity, such as breeding farms, Emus are fed with vegetables, insects, worms, and poultry feed.

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.