Differences between Seagull and Swallow

Seagull and Swallow are two classes of birds that belong to the Laridae and Hirundinidae families respectively.

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.

Swallow encompasses about 90 species of birds. These birds are small with short bills. The color of their plumage varies depending on the species. The back could be plain or bluish green. The belly is usually plain and white, while the lower part of the face and the neck are usually red. The wings of Swallows are narrow and pointed. The tail is long with the tip either square or forked. The birds have short legs with small feet for perching, walking, and running. They have exemplary eyesight. The birds spend most of their time in flight. Some prominent and widespread Swallow species are Barn Swallow, Mosque Swallow, Purple Martin, Tree Swallow, and Bank Swallow.

Where are Seagull and Swallow found?

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.

Swallows prefer locations that are near lakes, rivers, and waterbodies. However, they live in diverse habitats. They can be found in open grasslands, meadows, alpine areas, and even towns and cities. Swallows are distributed in almost all continents – Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. They do not exist in Antarctica, the Arctic, and some remote islands.

What do Seagull and Swallow eat?

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.

Swallows are insectivores. They chiefly eat flies and insects like mosquitoes, wasps, bees, spiders, ants, butterflies, snails, grasshoppers, worms, bugs, moths, crickets, and beetles. They are capable of hunting their prey during flight. In winters, the birds eat berries and seeds.

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

• Seagull do eat Fish while Swallow may not eat Fish.
• Seagull do eat Frogs while Swallow may not eat Frogs.
• Seagull do eat Lizards while Swallow may not eat Lizards.
• Seagull do eat Snakes while Swallow may not eat Snakes.
• Seagull do eat Turtles while Swallow may not eat Turtles.
• Seagull do eat Squirrels while Swallow may not eat Squirrels.
• Gophers are commonly eaten by Seagull while Swallow do not eat Gophers.
• Baby Ducks are commonly eaten by Seagull while Swallow do not eat Baby Ducks.
• Seagull do eat Mice while Swallow may not eat Mice.

Size of Seagull and Swallow?

When it comes to size, 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 size of Swallows differs based on the species. The average length is 3.9-9.4 inches, while the wingspan is about 11-12.6 inches. Mosque Swallow is one of the largest among the species. It is about 9.4 inches long. The species is native to Africa.

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. while The average weight of Swallows is 0.35-2.11 ounces. Mosque Swallows, which are one of the largest Swallow birds, weigh around two ounces.

Where do Seagull and Swallow nest?

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.

Swallows build their nests in tree holes, cavities of dead trees, nest boxes, ledges of buildings, crannies, or small craters in the ground. The birds prefer dimly lit areas to keep their nests and eggs safe from the sight of predators. Both male and female Swallows engage in nest building. The nests are shaped like cups and mostly made of mud. The birds gather mud in their bills for its construction. They also mix mud with grass and other plant material to make pellets. Swallow nests typically consist of about 1,000 pellets. It usually takes one to two weeks for the birds to complete the nest. Swallow eggs are oval with about 0.8 inches in length and 0.6 inches in width. They are plain white and could have brown speckles. The female incubates the eggs for about 14 days. The nestlings that hatch thereafter are mostly naked and do not open their eyes fully until the tenth day. They fledge when they are 18-24 days old but keep returning to the nest for many weeks.

How long do Seagull and Swallow live?

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.

The life expectancy of Swallows is very small. They are known to live for two to four years. The oldest known Swallow bird lived for a record 11 years.

Are Seagull or Swallow migratory birds?

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.

Most Swallow species are migratory. Their breeding and wintering habitats are usually different. The birds usually relocate southward during winters. In Europe, Swallow species move towards Morocco and South Africa. The ones in North America and Canada travel to Central and South America. The Holarctic species migrates from North America to South Africa and even the Indian subcontinent. Barn Swallow, the national bird of Austria, spends its winters in Singapore. In Asia, Swallow species do not travel long distances for migration. They move locally or sometimes even reside in the same territory. The species in Japan migrate to the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia. The birds from China and northern India move southward.

Do Seagull and Swallow fly in 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.

A group of Swallows is known as flight or gulp. The social behavior of Swallows depends on the species. Some are absolutely solitary, while some may live in pairs. Some species live in larger groups of about 200. During the breeding season, most Swallow species are solitary. However, there are a few of them that nest in colonies where about 35 pairs live together. On cold winter nights and during migration, Swallows generally flock together.

Are Seagull or Swallow protected?

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

Swallows are protected in some parts of the world under conservation and migratory bird laws. These laws prohibit harming of the birds and their nests.

Are Seagull or Swallow 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.

Some species of Swallows are threatened or endangered. Further they may be rare in some parts of the world but thriving elsewhere. For instance, Barn Swallow is the most pervasive of the species in the world. However, it is listed as threatened in Canada. The White-tailed Swallow exists in a small population in Ethiopia. It is listed as a vulnerable species. Blue Swallow from south-eastern Africa is also facing decline in population and is endangered. Swallows, like most other birds, face threats from climate change, deforestation, pesticides, and natural predators.

Can Seagull and Swallow fly?

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.

Swallows spend most of their time flying. They hunt for their food while airborne and can even catch insects that are flying. The birds are built with a lean body that facilitates good aerodynamics. They also have long, wide, and sharp-edged wings that help them glide in the air. Swallows are known for their long-distance migration. They travel during the day, flying at low altitudes. Some species fly 6,000 miles two times a year. The birds travel about 320 miles a day at about 20 miles an hour during migration. Their maximum flying speed is 35 miles an hour.

Can Seagull and Swallow swim?

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.

Swallows are not regular and efficient swimmers. However, they can swim short distances. Even the chicks will be able to swim if they accidentally fall in water. Swallows also regularly bathe in shallow waters and puddles.

Mating patterns among Seagull and Swallow

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.

Swallows reach sexual maturity when they are 40-50 days old. Courtship between partners begins about a week before egg laying. The male performs aerial flight and bowing displays while the female is perched at the nesting site. The partners also sing long songs during courtship and laying of eggs. The male continues to sing throughout the breeding season to defend the territory. There is usually one or two broods raised each year. Swallows lay two to six eggs in a clutch, depending on the species. While the female incubates the eggs, the male is known for his outstanding involvement as a parent.

When is the mating season for Seagull and Swallow ?

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.

The mating season for Swallows depends on the species and geography. It could be March-July or May-August. Partners engage in courtship as soon as they reach their breeding territories from the wintering sites.

Do Seagull and Swallow mate for life?

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

Swallows mate for life. The partners stay together until one of them dies. They also return to the same nesting site each year. Some of them may even use the same nest after renovating it.

How do Seagull and Swallow sleep?

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.

Swallows sleep on trees, ledges, tree holes, or caves. When the chicks are young, the family sleeps together at the nesting site. In non-breeding months and winters, Swallows generally sleep in flocks at common roosting sites.

Can Seagull and Swallow be eaten?

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.

Swallows are eaten despite laws protecting them from any harm. It is a delicacy among people in Europe. People are also known to eat the eggs of Swallows. Further, Chinese also savour soups made from the nests of these birds.

Can you hunt Seagull or Swallow?

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.

Swallows are hunted for meat. They are also killed in some places for destroying crops and farmlands. However, it is illegal to harm or hunt the birds in some countries.

Can you feed Seagull or Swallow?

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.

It is illegal and not advisable to keep Swallows as pets. At feeders, they can be given insects and kitten food.