Mew Gull Larus canus Linnaeus       Field Guide IDs: NG-198; G-146; PE-290; PW-pl 33; AW-pl 23; AM(II)-52 Nest Location Nest Type Eggs & Mating System Dev. & Parental Care Primary & 2ndary Diet.. Foraging Strategy MF I: 24-26 DAYS SEMIPRECOCIAL CONIF FLOATING 0-20 feet CUP MF 3 (2-3) MONOG F: 30-32 DAYS MF SURFACE .....DIPS PIRACY BREEDING: Rocky or sandy coasts and inland lakes and rivers. 1 brood DISPLAYS: Courtship: female approaches male in hunched posture, head flags, begs food. NEST: Scrape in highest part of habitat: river bar, dry land, or marsh; scantily lined with dry grass. Alternatively, a shallow cup on platform of seaweed, twigs, lichens and moss in top of low-growing spruce, on stump, piling. In marsh habitat, often build floating platform. Occ on flat gravel rooftop. Site often perennial. EGGS: Brown/olive-buff, marked with brown, occ wreathed. 2.2" (57 mm). DIET: Insects, earthworms, fish, mollusks, crustaceans, occ young birds, mice; grain, garbage. Pirates food from other gulls. Chicks fed much fish. CONSERVATION: Winters s to n Baja. NOTES: Nests in small colonies or as solitary pairs. Named for high-pitched mewing call given in breeding colony. Often return to breed in natal colony. Adults demonstratively defensive at nest; often perform distraction display. Protective cover is critical factor in selection of nest site. Drops sea urchins from heights onto beach to crack. Adult plumage attained in third year. Known in Europe as Common Gull. STANFORD. NOTES: ESSAYS: Gull Development; Coloniality; Gulls and Predators; Parent-Chick Recognition. REFERENCES: Burger and Gochfeld, 1987; Cramp and Simmons, 1983; Vermeer and Devito, 1986, 1987.