Differences between Seagull and Wren

Seagull and Wren are two classes of birds that belong to the Laridae and Troglodytidae 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.

Wrens are tiny song birds. They have a loud voice. The songs of these passerines are considered to be very pleasant. Hence, they are also known as musician wren, flutist wren, and song wren. Wrens are round and stout. The wings, tail, and back are brown, while the belly is greyish white. There are numerous streaks and spots all over the body. The tail is short and firm. The bill is thin and slightly bent at the tip. The legs are thin and long with feet adapted for perching. The family of Wrens includes 88 species. House Wren, Winter Wren, Rock Wren, Cactus Wren, Eurasian Wren, Giant Wren, Spotted Wren, and Bewick’s Wren are a few of them.

Where are Seagull and Wren 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.

Wrens live in open forests, orchards near streams, mountains, gardens, shrubs, and towns. Their species are spread across the world. They can be found in Canada, North America, and South America. The Eurasian species exist in parts of Europe, Africa, and Asia. The name Wren is also used for other distinct birds in Australia and New Zealand.

What do Seagull and Wren 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.

Wrens are either omnivores or insectivores. They chiefly eat insects, worms, spiders, small lizards and frogs. Some of them also eat fruits, berries, and vegetables.

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

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

Size of Seagull and Wren?

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 Wrens depends on the species. The smallest Wren is the White-bellied Wren, which is about 10 centimeters long. The Giant Wren, the largest of the species, is around 22 centimeters long. The Eurasian Wren is one of the smallest birds in Europe. It is eight to 12 centimeters long.

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 White-bellied Wren weighs about 0.32 ounces, while the Giant Wren is around 1.8 ounces in weight.

Where do Seagull and Wren 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.

Wrens build their nests in hollows of trees, rocks, and buildings. Nests, shaped like domes, are usually made using leaves, twigs, moss, feathers, and other plant material. In most Wren species, the male makes the structure of the nest with the female finishing it up. In other species, the male constructs several nests and the female chooses one to lay the eggs. It may take one to two weeks to build the nests. Wren eggs are pinkish white or pinkish grey with brown speckles. The female takes the responsibility of incubating the eggs for 12-15 days. Once the eggs hatch, both parents take turns to feed the nestlings. The young ones will be able to fledge when they are 12-18 days old but follow the parents for few days to learn about foraging and safeguarding themselves from predators.

How long do Seagull and Wren 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 Wrens depends on the species. The average lifespan is two to seven years. The longest known living Wren was eight years old when it was captured for banding in 1986 in California.

Are Seagull or Wren 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 Wren species are migratory. The ones in North America and Canada migrate to the USA and Mexico in winters. They will go back north during March-May. Wrens in the UK are mostly residents. Wren species from northern Europe travel about 1,500 miles to spend their winters in the south. Even in Asia, the same migration pattern occurs. Only the birds from the northern hemisphere typically travel during winters.

Do Seagull and Wren 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 Wrens is usually addressed as a herd. Wrens are solitary birds. They forage alone or in pairs. Sometimes they can be spotted in very small groups. On cold nights, however, they roost in packed clusters for warmth. Wrens are extremely territorial. They do not welcome other birds having their nests near theirs. Some species, like the House Wren, are also very aggressive. They can even be acrimonious towards their own species, other birds, and also humans.

Are Seagull or Wren protected?

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

Wrens are protected under the Migratory Bird Act in the USA and Canada. They are protected in the UK as part of conservation efforts. The bird also appears in the European Union’s list of threatened birds requiring special protection.

Are Seagull or Wren 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.

Wrens are not primarily endangered birds. Some species like Sedge Wren, Bewick’s Wren, Niceforo’s Wren, Apolinar’s Wren, Fairy Wrens, and Emu Wren are either threatened or endangered. Wrens have a short lifespan, during which time they face threats such as attacks from predators, risk of dying from cold weather, and long flights during migration.

Can Seagull and Wren 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.

Wrens are active birds. They are always hopping, running, or taking short flights in search of food. When they have to fly, they take off directly by beating their wings vigorously. Wrens can fly at maximum speed of 20-25 miles an hour. In winters, some species travel as much as 1,500 miles.

Can Seagull and Wren 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.

Wrens are not water birds. They are also tiny birds without webbed feet. So, they do not swim.

Mating patterns among Seagull and Wren

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.

Wrens generally attain sexual maturity when they are about a year old. The male perches at the nesting sites that he has prepared, singing throughout the day to attract a partner. The female chooses a nesting site and fills in more twigs, grass, and feathers to complete the nest. This is an indication of her approval to pair with the male. The female Wren raises two broods every breeding season with each clutch consisting of three to 10 eggs. While the female mostly incubates the eggs, the male shares responsibility to feed and protect the young ones.

When is the mating season for Seagull and Wren ?

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 breeding season for Wrens differs as per species and geography. Typically, it is between April and July each year.

Do Seagull and Wren 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.

Wrens are not monogamous. The partners are bonded until they raise a brood. They usually stay together until their young ones fledge. While the male may seek another pair much earlier, the female waits until she has completed her maternal duties.

How do Seagull and Wren 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.

Wrens choose cosy and protected locations for sleeping at nights. These locations could include tree holes, bird boxes, corners of buildings, and deserted vehicles. In winters, the birds roost in flocks, huddling to keep warm.

Can Seagull and Wren 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.

There are no known instances of humans eating Wren meat. This could be because these birds are tiny with very little flesh. Further, modern laws in many countries prohibit killing of Wrens.

Can you hunt Seagull or Wren?

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.

Hunting of the birds is against the law in several countries. However, Wren Day or Hunt the Wren Day is a tradition followed in many parts of Europe in the month of December. On this day, people hunt Wrens and hang them on top of poles.

Can you feed Seagull or Wren?

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.

In some countries, it may not be legal to offer food to birds at public places. At bird feeders, the best food you can give Wrens is crickets, worms, peanuts, and berries.