Skip to main content

Get Involved
Get eNews
Donate

Birds
Live Cams
Courses
Merlin Bird ID

Donate

California Gull Sounds

Overview
ID info
Life History
Maps
Sounds

Long calls
Media Player Error
Update your browser or Flash plugin
Utah, May 19, 2013Recorded by Bob McGuire / Macaulay Library
Calls
Media Player Error
Update your browser or Flash plugin
Utah, June 13, 1961Recorded by Robert C. Stein / Macaulay Library
Calls
Media Player Error
Update your browser or Flash plugin
California, May 17, 2013Recorded by Bob McGuire / Macaulay Library
Calls
Media Player Error
Update your browser or Flash plugin
Utah, June 16, 1961Recorded by Randolph Little / Macaulay Library
Calls
Media Player Error
Update your browser or Flash plugin
Washington, September 10, 2012Recorded by Andrew Spencer
Calls
Media Player Error
Update your browser or Flash plugin
California, June 06, 2006Recorded by Dave Herr / Macaulay Library

Sounds provided by Macaulay Library.
Listen to more sounds of this species from the ML archive.

Calls

California Gulls do not have true songs, but they are quite vocal; they cry and carry on even at night on their breeding colonies. Their calls consist of a scratchy, hoarse series of aow and uh-uh-uh notes. They have several types of calls with corresponding unique behaviors including the "long call," "choking call," "warning call," and "alarm call." The "long call" given during territorial defense starts with their heads lowered and as they raise their heads straight up they bellow out an aow. During the "choking call" they put their breast on the ground and jerk their head up and down as if they were choking while giving a huoh-houh-houh. They give the "choking call" most frequently before and during nest building. The "warning call" is a long ringing yeow, given in flight, especially when they flush from a breeding colony. The "alarm call" is a series of sharp ha ha ha ha notes that they give in flight, often when they detect a predator. Compared to Ring-billed and Herring Gulls, their calls are intermediate in pitch—Ring-billed Gulls are higher pitched and Herring Gulls are lower pitched.

Compare with Similar Species

Click on an image to compare

Ring-billed Gull

Ring-billed Gull

Ring-billed Gull

American Herring Gull

American Herring Gull

American Herring Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Short-billed Gull

Short-billed Gull

Looking for ID Help?

Our free app offers quick ID help with global coverage.

Try Merlin Bird ID

Species in This Family

Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers(Order: Charadriiformes, Family: Laridae)

Black-legged Kittiwake

Red-legged Kittiwake

Bonaparte's Gull

Black-headed Gull

Franklin's Gull

Heermann's Gull

Short-billed Gull

Ring-billed Gull

Yellow-footed Gull

American Herring Gull

Great Black-backed Gull

Lesser Black-backed Gull

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Slaty-backed Gull

Gull-billed Tern

Browse Species in This Family

More to Read

Seven Simple Actions to Help Birds
BirdCastHow to Use BirdCast Dashboard to See Your Local Migration in Detail
I found a pigeon or dove that seems tame and has colored bands on its legs. What should I do?
It sounds like there are birds stuck in my chimney. What should I do?
You're seeing fewer hummingbirds at your feeder. Should you worry?
Living Bird MagazineAnalysis: The Economic Value of Birds

About Us
Citizen Science
Lifelong Learning
Publications
Explore More
Support Our Cause

Contact Us
Web Accessibility Assistance
Privacy Policy
Terms of use
Site Credits

Follow us

© 2025 Cornell University

Search for species name or keywords

Or Browse Bird Guide by Family or Shape

Need Bird ID Help? Try Merlin

Don't miss a thing! Join our email list

The Cornell Lab will send you updates about birds,
birding, and opportunities to help bird conservation.