Seagulls are medium to large in size, usually gray or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They usually have a loud or squawking call, a long beak, and webbed feet. Most seagulls are land-nesting carnivores that take live food or forage opportunistically, especially the species Larus.
Seagulls often eat live foods such as crabs and small fish. The seagull have jaws wide enough to allow them to consume large prey. Gulls are usually coastal or inland species, rarely venturing far out to sea, except for the kittiwake.