Laughing gull
Image copyright by Mark A. Chappell
Laughing gulls (named for their calls) are the common gull of the Gulf Coast of the US. In breeding plumage they are striking birds with black hoods and neat white 'eyelids'. The birds above were resting on an old decaying pier in Rockport, Texas. The flock of winter-plumage birds below were resting on a beach in Crystal River, Florida, and the partially-molted gull in dawn light was at Fort DeSoto Park, Florida.
