Guest Author - Lisa Shea

The Western Gull is a typical-looking seagull that is the Utah state bird. It has a white head and body, with grey wings. It's found along the Pacific coastline. Its name is Larus occidentalis.

The Western Gull eats fish, squid, crabs, and chicks of other birds.

Many people have great trouble telling gulls apart. The Western Gull is about the same size as the Herring Gull and looks just about the same. Other similar birds are the California and ring-billed gulls - both are slightly smaller.

Younger Western Gulls are light brown in color.

State Bird Listing