Leucophaeus atricilla

Laughing gulls are gregarious coastal birds easily recognized by their stark black hoods during the breeding season and their loud, nasal, laugh-like calls. They patrol beaches, salt marshes, and estuaries, frequently hovering overhead to snatch food from the air or harass other seabirds into dropping their catch. During winter, their dark hoods fade to a mottled grey smudge behind the eye, but their bold, opportunistic personality remains unchanged.