Montana Field Guide

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Montana Field Guides

Home - Other Field Guides
- Kingdom - Animals - Animalia
  - Phylum - Vertebrates - Craniata
    - Class - Birds - Aves
      - Order - Shorebirds - Charadriiformes
        
        Family - Gulls / Terns - Laridae
        
        Species - Western Gull - Larus occidentalis

Western Gull - Larus occidentalis

Native Species
Accidental Species

Global Rank: G5
State Rank: SNA

Agency Status
USFWS: MBTA
USFS:
BLM:
PIF:

External Links

General Description

Western Gull breeds along the Pacific coast and offshore islands from Washington state to Baja California. The species is uncommon at inland locations (Pierotti and Annett 1995).

For a comprehensive review of the conservation status, habitat use, and ecology of this and other Montana bird species, please see Marks et al. 2016, Birds of Montana.

Observations in Montana Natural Heritage Program Database

Number of Observations: 1

(Click on the following maps and charts to see full sized version) Map Help and Descriptions

Relative Density

Recency

SUMMER (Feb 16 - Dec 14)

Direct Evidence of Breeding

Indirect Evidence of Breeding

No Evidence of Breeding

WINTER (Dec 15 - Feb 15)

Regularly Observed

Not Regularly Observed

(Observations spanning multiple months or years are excluded from time charts)

Stewardship Responsibility

References

Literature Cited AboveLegend: View Online Publication
- Marks, J.S., P. Hendricks, and D. Casey. 2016. Birds of Montana. Arrington, VA. Buteo Books. 659 pages.
- Pierotti, R.J. and C.A. Annett. 1995. Western Gull (Larus occidentalis), The Birds of North America (P. G. Rodewald, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Retrieved from the Birds of North America: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/wesgul/cur/introduction DOI: 10.2173/bna.174
Additional ReferencesLegend: View Online Publication
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- Bell, D. A. 1996. Genetic differentiation, geographic variation and hybridization in gulls of the Larus glaucescens-occidentalis complex. Condor 98:527-546.
- Hand, J. C. 1980. Human disturbance of the western gull, Larus occidentalis livens, colonies and possible amplification by intraspecific predation. Biological Conservation 18 :59-63.
- Hays, R., R.L. Eng, and C.V. Davis (preparers). 1984. A list of Montana birds. Helena, MT: MT Dept. of Fish, Wildlife & Parks.
- Joslin, Gayle, and Heidi B. Youmans. 1999. Effects of recreation on Rocky Mountain wildlife: a review for Montana. [Montana]: Montana Chapter of the Wildlife Society.
- Maron, J. L., July, 1982, Shell-Dropping Behavior of Western Gulls (Larus occidentalis)
- Richmond, C.W. and F.H. Knowlton. 1894. Birds of south-central Montana. Auk 11:298-308.
- Schreiber, R. W., April, 1970, Breeding biology of Western Gulls (Larus occidentalis) On San Nicolas Island, California, 1968
- Sibley, D. 2014. The Sibley guide to birds. Alfred A. Knopf, New York, NY. 598 pp.
- Skaar, P.D. 1969. Birds of the Bozeman latilong: a compilation of data concerning the birds which occur between 45 and 46 N. latitude and 111 and 112 W. longitude, with current lists for Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, impinging Montana counties and Yellowstone National Park. Bozeman, MT. 132 p.
- Taylor, D.M. and C.H. Trost. 1987. The status of historically rare of unrecorded birds in Idaho. Unpublished manuscript. 68 p.
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Citation for data on this website:
Western Gull — Larus occidentalis. Montana Field Guide. Montana Natural Heritage Program and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Retrieved on October 30, 2025, from https://FieldGuide.mt.gov/speciesDetail.aspx?elcode=ABNNM03180