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Silver Gull (Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae) Alternate name(s): "Red-legged Gull", "Red-billed Gull", "Crimson-billed Gull", "Jameson Gull", "Mackarel Gull", "Seagull"; misnomer: "Sea-pigeon" Aboriginal name(s): Race "novaehollandiae": "manggiwarraywarraymal" [yuwaalaraay]; "djidjinook", "djiranger" (WA); "kalliwarra", "koonya", "tarooki" Size: 40-45 cm; wing span 91-96 cm Body mass: 195-430 g (race "novaehollandiae"); 150-365 g (race "scopulinus") Wing loading [g/cm2]: 0.35-0.45

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Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Silver Gulls are the smallest of the gulls found regularly in Australia. Adults have an all-white head and front (neck, chest, belly and vent). The upperwings are light-grey, with black wing tips with white spots. The tail is white. The eyes, which are surrounded by a thin red eye-ring, are whitish; the bill is bright-red and the legs and feet are also bright-red. Juvenile Silver Gulls have some grey on their heads, heavily scalloped (dark and light grey, with some brown) upperwings, dark eyes, a grey bill and black legs and feet.

Taxonomy, classification See Silver Gull at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Silver Gull is available HERE . Silver Gulls are a sedentary species of which there are 3 races. They have a restricted range, populating Australia, southern New Guinea, Vanuatu and New Caledonia only. Race "novaehollandiae" is found in most of Australia, while race "forsteri" is native to southern New Guinea, the Loyalty Islands and New Caledonia (according to some sources also northern/north-eastern Australia) and race "scopulinus" is present in New Zealand. In Australia, Silver Gulls, nominate race "novaehollandiae", are found all around the Australian seaboard, including Bass Strait and Tasmania and also the Coral Sea and the Great Barrier Reef. Offshore they also trail fishing vessels. Inland they are most common in the south-eastern quarter of the Australian continent, especially in the Murray-Darling Basin (NSW, VIC) and the eastern half of SA (including the Lake Eyre Basin). In addition, they are found in inland South-West WA and in southern and central QLD. After substantial inland rainfall they disperse over most of the Australian continent, except for the major sandy deserts of the eastern half of WA. Silver Gulls are opportunistic scavengers that can live in vastly different habitats, from the open sea and seabird colonies on offshore islands to freshwater lakes including ephemeral lakes and other ephemeral wetlands of the semi-arid interior of Australia, but also manmade habitats such as rubbish tips, harbours and inner cities. Where to look? How to find this species? Apart from being the only species of gull found throughout inland Australia, Silver Gulls are unique - and therefore easy to idenfity, also along the coastline - because of the adult birds' red bills and legs. They can potentially be found around any type of water surface, except small farm dams or ornamental ponds (see above). The easiest way to find Silver Gulls is to have fish & chips in a seaside restaurant - usually the local population will know where to scavenge, so they will find you, rather than the other way round.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "novaehollandiae" Silver Gulls, race "novaehollandiae", are seen frequently in our area when there is surface water around, for example at Narrabri Lake, and in other parts of inland Australia. In August 2011 at least 60 Silver Gulls, race "novaehollandiae", were found at Goran Lake, an ephemeral lake about 30 km South of Gunnedah, NSW. Since then, whenever there is water in the lake, Silver Gulls are found by us there. They are also seen by us and various contributors regularly in many locations all along the Australian eastern seaboard. Silver Gulls, race "novaehollandiae", were also found in abundance in various locations in and around Darwin, NT, in August 2014. R. Plumtree reports spotting Silver Gulls, race "novaehollandiae", regularly along the coastline of East Gippsland, VIC. M. Eaton reports finding Silver Gulls, race "novaehollandiae", at the Botanical Garden, Melbourne, VIC, in October 2017. M. Eaton also found Silver Gulls, race "novaehollandiae", on a pelagic off Eaglehawk Neck, near Hobart, TAS, in September 2021. R. Plumtree reports spotting Silver Gulls, race "novaehollandiae", at the jetty of the Queenscliff ferry, Sorrento, VIC, in September 2019, where they were found nesting at the time. C. Pears finds Silver Gulls, race "novaehollandiae", regularly in Quindalup, WA. Others were found at the Broome Bird Observatory, Broome, WA, in June 2025. In October 2022, M. Eaton found Silver Gulls, race "novaehollandiae", nesting at the Salt Lagoon, St. Kilda, SA.

Photos

Race "novaehollandiae"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Frontal view of a Silver Gull looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Botanical Garden, Melbourne, VIC, October 2017]

Frontal view of a preening Silver Gull
[Sydney, NSW, April 2006]

Near-frontal view of a Silver Gull looking sideways
[Goran Lake, near Gunnedah, NSW, May 2012]

"Am I wearing the right shoes for tonight's fancy dress ball?"
[Myall Lakes NP, NSW, June 2009]

Near-lateral view of a Silver Gull (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Botanical Garden, Melbourne, VIC, October 2017]

Close-up lateral portrait of a Silver Gull
[Darwin, NT, August 2014]

Close-up lateral view of a Silver Gull looking towards the observer
[Goran Lake, near Gunnedah, NSW, December 2023]

Close-up lateral view of a Silver Gull regurgitating food
[Goran Lake, near Gunnedah, NSW, December 2023]

Close-up lateral view of a Silver Gull (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, October 2012]

Close-up lateral view of a Silver Gull
[Iluka Bluff, Bundjalung NP, NSW, May 2014]

Lateral view of a resting Silver Gull
[Myall Lakes NP, NSW, June 2009]

Lateral view of two Silver Gulls standing in shallow water
[Goran Lake, near Gunnedah, NSW, August 2011]

Near-dorsal view of a Silver Gull with worn plumage
[Darwin, NT, August 2014]

Near-dorsal view of a Silver Gull
[Iluka Bluff, Bundjalung NP, NSW, May 2014]

Dorsal view of a Silver Gull (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Botanical Garden, Melbourne, VIC, October 2017]

Dorsal view of three Silver Gulls
[Goran Lake, near Gunnedah, NSW, August 2011]

Near-dorsal view of a Silver Gull landing (no, not on a landing strip) on a road, in the process displaying its characteristic upperwing pattern
[Near Walgett, NSW, April 2009]

Lateral view of a flock of Silver Gulls taking off
[Goran Lake, near Gunnedah, NSW, May 2012]

Direct size comparison between a Pacific Gull, right, and a Silver Gull, left (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Albany, WA, January 2015]

Frontal view of a Silver Gull in flight (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Flat Rock, Ballina, NSW, February 2019]

Close-up near-frontal view of a Silver Gull in flight
[Goran Lake, near Gunnedah, NSW, May 2012]

Near-lateral view of a Silver Gull in flight
[Goran Lake, near Gunnedah, NSW, April 2012]

Lateral/ventral view of a Silver Gull in flight looking down at the observer
[Darwin, NT, August 2014]

Close-up lateral view of a Silver Gull in flight
[Iluka Bluff, Bundjalung NP, NSW, May 2014]

Lateral view of a Silver Gull in flight (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Port Douglas, QLD, May 2022]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Second-year immature Silver Gull in the last stages of moulting into adult plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Botanical Garden, Melbourne, VIC, October 2017]

Lateral view of a second-year immature Silver Gull on water
[Iluka Bluff, Bundjalung NP, NSW, May 2014]

Lateral view of a second-year immature Silver Gull (photo courtesy of C. Kellenberg)

Lateral view of a first-year immature Silver Gull that still has remnant brownish specks of its juvenile plumage on the wing coverts (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)

Close-up lateral view of a juvenile Silver Gull looking towards the observer
[Darwin, NT, August 2014]

Close-up lateral view of a juvenile Silver Gull on a beach (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Albany, WA, January 2015]

Lateral view of a juvenile Silver Gull (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Botanical Garden, Melbourne, VIC, October 2017]

Direct comparison of the plumages of an adult Silver Gull (left) with two juvenile birds (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)

Breeding information

Breeding season: Aug - Dec

Eggs: 2 - 3

Incubation period: 22 - 26 days

Fledging age: ca. 28 days

The breeding season listed in the table above applies to the southern part of the Australian continent. In the North they can breed any time of the year. Normally they nest in dense colonies, on isolated, sparsely vegetated islands, but they can occasionally be found closer to human activity as well.

Nest building: Female & male

Incubation: Female & male

Dependent care: Female & male

Nest

"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal]

Type: Scrape

Material: Dry plants

Height above ground: N/A

Silver Gulls can also nest in dense low shrubs or in other settings, such as e.g. man-made structures in harbours.

Overview of Silver Gulls nesting on a rock ledge (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Penguin Island, near Rockingham, WA, October 2022]

Overview of Silver Gulls nesting in coastal samphire (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Penguin Island, near Rockingham, WA, October 2022]

Overview of Silver Gulls nesting on a crystallized salt structure (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Salt Lagoon, St. Kilda, SA, October 2022]

Two Silver Gull nests on a crystallized salt structure (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Salt Lagoon, St. Kilda, SA, October 2022]

Close-up view of a Silver Gull on its nest on crystallized salt (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Salt Lagoon, St. Kilda, SA, October 2022]

One of two Silver Gull chicks in a rudimentary nest (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Jetty of the Queenscliff ferry, Sorrento, VIC, September 2019]

One of two Silver Gull chicks in a rudimentary nest (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Jetty of the Queenscliff ferry, Sorrento, VIC, September 2019]

One of the adult Silver Gulls who were raising the brood (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Jetty of the Queenscliff ferry, Sorrento, VIC, September 2019]

Eggs

"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay]

Size: 53 x 38 mm

Colour: Brownish-grey, with brown to black speckles

Shape: Tapered oval

Silver Gull nest on a rock ledge with two eggs in it (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Penguin Island, near Rockingham, WA, October 2022]

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Communal

Mobility: Sedentary/dispersive

Elementary unit: Flock

Silver Gulls are the only species of gulls in Australia that will venture inland, away from the coast.

Often squabbles break out between Silver Gulls about who has stolen the food of others
[Goran Lake, near Gunnedah, NSW, May 2012]

This small mob of Silver Gulls used an unusual hunting technique, by rising out of water in which they could stand, to then dive on their prey from as little as 1 m high
[40 km S of Mungindi, NSW, January 2023]

Food, Diet

There is a separate page on how a Silver Gull rinses a fish before eating it.

Like all gulls, Silver Gulls are opportunistic. They will feed on anything from carrion and discarded entrails to fish, chicks of other bird species and eggs. They are often found around fish markets, fishermen and fishing boats, knowing there will be scraps to scavenge.

Two sub-adult Silver Gulls arguing about how will get first bite at an Estuary Cobbler (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Albany, WA, January 2015]

Silver Gull with something unidentifiable to eat
[Goran Lake, near Gunnedah, NSW, April 2012]

Because the competition also wants it, the safest thing to do is to carry it away
[Goran Lake, near Gunnedah, NSW, April 2012]

Frontal view of an immature Silver Gull with the leftovers of somebody else's meal
[Near Old Bar, NSW, June 2011]

Juvenile Silver Gull acquiring the art of scavenging food from humans (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Tweed River, Tweed Heads, NSW, December 2014]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

slvgull_20231227.m4a	novaehollandiae (NW NSW)	Contact call	© MD
slvgull_20220130_3.m4a	novaehollandiae (NW NSW)	Contact call	© MD
slvgull_20220130_2.m4a	novaehollandiae (NW NSW)	Contact calls Q&A (mob in flight)	© MD
slvgull_20220912.mp3	novaehollandiae (NW NSW)	Contact calls Q&A (small mob in flight)	© MD
slvgull_me_20210927.m4a	novaehollandiae (TAS)	Contact calls (+ New Holland Honeyeater)	© ME
slvgull_me_20210927_2.m4a	novaehollandiae (TAS)	Contact calls (+ Little Penguin)	© ME
slvgull_20240130.m4a	novaehollandiae (NW NSW)	Warning calls? (human)	© MD
slvgull_20150327.m4a	novaehollandiae (NE NSW)	Begging calls (juvenile) + adult responding	© MD
slvgull_20220130_6.m4a	novaehollandiae (NW NSW)	Various (in flight)	© MD
slvgull_20220130_4.m4a	novaehollandiae (NW NSW)	Various (mob in flight)	© MD
slvgull_20220130_5.m4a	novaehollandiae (NW NSW)	?	© MD
slvgull_20220130.m4a	novaehollandiae (NW NSW)	? (mob in flight)	© MD

More Silver Gull sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

Would you like to contribute photos or sound recordings to this site? If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.