Differences between Heron and Seagull

Heron and Seagull are two classes of birds that belong to the Ardeidae and Laridae families respectively.

Herons are intelligent birds of medium to large size. They are a symbol of beauty with long legs and neck. They are wonderful aviators that can fly at a speed of nearly 30 miles an hour. The Heron family includes several species such as Egrets and Bitterns.

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 Heron and Seagull found?

Herons live near freshwater and coasts. While most species are found in the tropics, they do exist in lowland and alpine areas. They can be seen in all parts of the world, except 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 Heron and Seagull eat?

Herons are carnivores that feed on the boundaries of rivers, seas, ponds, and lakes. They are named as one of the smartest birds for their skills in advanced feeding habits and procurement of food. They usually feed on aquatic animals such as fish, frogs, reptiles, insects, eels, and crustaceans. In winters, when these water animals move down to deeper waters, herons manage to hunt smaller birds, rabbits, and squirrels on the land.

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 Heron and Seagull

• Both Heron and Seagull eat Fish.
• Both Heron and Seagull eat Frogs.
• Both Heron and Seagull eat Lizards.
• Both Heron and Seagull eat Snakes.
• Both Heron and Seagull eat Turtles.
• Both Heron and Seagull eat Squirrels.
• Gophers are commonly eaten by Heron, but not by all Seagull.
• Baby Ducks are consumed by both Heronand Seagull.
• Mice are eaten by both Heron and Seagull.

Size of Heron and Seagull?

When it comes to size, Herons are generally about three feet tall. They have broad wings, usually twice their body size. The wings spread out to measure 5.5-6.5 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.

Herons usually weigh 4.6-7.3 pounds. The males are bigger and weigh more than the females. 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 Heron and Seagull nest?

Herons construct their nests close to feeding areas like wetlands and lakes. The nests are built on tall trees to stay safe from predators. It is the female that builds the nest from twigs, roots, and dead grass gathered by the male. The female generally lays three to five eggs that have an incubation period of around 25 days. Once the eggs hatch, both female and male partners participate in getting food for their young ones.

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 Heron and Seagull live?

The average life expectancy of a Heron is five years in the wild. Some young ones do not survive after the first year due to scarcity of food, while some of them fall prey to predators. The longest surviving great wild blue heron is known to have lived for 23 years.

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 Heron or Seagull migratory birds?

Herons are very mobile, however their migration depends on where they are. They prefer warmer climates, so tend to migrate in winters. After the breeding season, the birds explore new feeding areas and migrate alone or in small groups of 12 during the night. The Grey Herons are mostly residential and stay put in Britain and other parts of Europe. On the other hand, the Great Blue Herons migrate from March to May every year, flying around 7,000 feet above sea level.

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 Heron and Seagull fly in flocks?

A flock of Herons is called a siege or colony. Herons are mostly solitary birds – they migrate alone or in small groups. However, during the breeding season in spring and summer, they live in colonies. This practise helps them to nest together and protect their young ones from predators.

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 Heron or Seagull protected?

Herons are an important part of the ecosystem at wetlands. Therefore, they are protected birds under the law of the USA, Great Britain, Ireland, France, and many other countries. This means that killing or trying to kill a Heron is a punishable offence.

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

Are Heron or Seagull endangered?

Herons are not endangered, however their population may be reducing owing to destruction of their natural habitats and scarcity of food. Meanwhile, some Heron species like Humblot’s Heron and White-bellied Heron are labelled as critically endangered.

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 Heron and Seagull fly?

Herons have a wide wingspan that allows them to fly at speeds of nearly 30 miles an hour. Further, they have 12 rectrices that help them maneuver while flying. The bird is known to cover up to 2,500 miles in six days. Their wings open up wide, their long legs trail freely, while their neck retracts into an S shape during flight.

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 Heron and Seagull swim?

Herons are not basically water birds. They find their catch on the margins of lakes, rivers, and shores – or hover on water to dive in and catch a fish. They have slightly webbed feet, so they may be able to swim occasionally.

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 Heron and Seagull

Herons start mating when they are about three years old. During the breeding season, the male and female birds undergo color changes and develop the nuptial plumage. Herons engage in breeding once a year, atop tall trees in case of larger herons and in bushes for smaller ones. The male and female Herons engage in Circle Fight, Greeting Ceremony, and courtship displays for several days to abate their natural aggression, after which the male demonstrates a gesture of acceptance by offering a stick for the nest to the female.

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 Heron and Seagull ?

Mating season for Herons is usually during March-May in the northern hemisphere and November-April in the southern hemisphere.

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 Heron and Seagull mate for life?

Herons go through extensive mating rituals, which enhance the bond between the male and female. They stay together for an entire breeding season and sometimes for a few years – however not for life. The birds change partners about four times in their lifetime.

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

How do Heron and Seagull sleep?

During the day, Herons rest in peaceful and protected places with their neck bent. Sometimes they also sleep standing in water so that vibrations caused by the entry of predators will wake them up. At night, they sleep on high trees to keep themselves safe from the predators on land.

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 Heron and Seagull be eaten?

Herons have been part of human meals since bygone times. They were generally roasted or boiled and eaten with spices. The fat in a Heron’s body was thought to have medicinal benefits. However, consumption of Herons has reduced drastically as they are protected birds under the law.

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 Heron or Seagull?

Herons used to be hunted by humans for meat and feathers besides for sport. However, the bird is now protected by the laws of several countries. They are also protected under treaties for migratory birds. Therefore, hunting Herons is illegal.

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 Heron or Seagull?

Feeding wild animals and birds in public places is not permitted in places like USA, Singapore, and Dubai. If you have to feed a Heron in captivity, feed it with fish, frogs, meat, and eggs.

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.