V-63 Laughing Gull

Laughing Gulls take three years to reach adult plumage. Immature birds are always darker than most similar-sized gulls other than Franklin's. First-year birds are greyer below and have paler heads than first-year Franklin's, and second-years can be distinguished by the wing pattern and structure. Laughing Gulls breed in coastal marshes and ponds in large colonies. The large nest, made largely from grasses, is constructed on the ground. The 3 or 4 greenish eggs are incubated for about three weeks. These are omnivores like most gulls, and they will scavage as well as seeking suitable small prey. This image is from the Charles Beckendorf Texas Wildlife book. The original was an acrylic painting on canvas (1992) and the size is approximately 14 X 11 inches. The total edition size of this print is 500.  This is a part of the Texas Wildlife Art Prints Collection.