Western Gull
Western GullWestern GullWestern GullWestern Gull

Western Gull

Larus occidentalis

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Insufficient data
overall probability at Joshua Tree National Park
3 Verified records at Joshua Tree National Park
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The western gull (Larus occidentalis) is a large white-headed gull that lives on the west coast of North America and the Pacific Ocean. The western gull ranges from British Columbia, Canada, to Baja California, Mexico. It was previously considered conspecific with the yellow-footed gull (Larus livens) of the Gulf of California. Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Joshua Tree National Park

Ring-billed Gull
LC

Ring-billed Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Larus delawarensis

<5% · Rare
California Gull
LC

California Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Larus californicus

<5% · Rare
Heermann's Gull
NT

Heermann's Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Larus heermanni

Insufficient data
American Herring Gull
LC

American Herring Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Larus smithsonianus

Insufficient data
Caspian Tern
LC

Caspian Tern

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Hydroprogne caspia

<5% · Rare
Forster's Tern
LC

Forster's Tern

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sterna forsteri

<5% · Rare
Black Tern
LC

Black Tern

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Chlidonias niger

Insufficient data
Franklin's Gull
LC

Franklin's Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Leucophaeus pipixcan

Insufficient data
Killdeer
NT

Killdeer

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Charadrius vociferus

<5% · Rare
Baird's Sandpiper
LC

Baird's Sandpiper

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Calidris bairdii

Insufficient data
Spotted Sandpiper
LC

Spotted Sandpiper

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Actitis macularius

<5% · Rare
Black-necked Stilt
Endemic

Black-necked Stilt

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Himantopus mexicanus

<5% · Rare

📅 Monthly Probability

📊

Fewer than 5 records of Western Gull at Joshua Tree National Park — not enough to chart months honestly.

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Channel Islands National Park 🇺🇸 United States
70–80%
2 El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
60–70%
3 Redwood National Park 🇺🇸 United States
30–40%
4 Olympic National Park 🇺🇸 United States
5–10%
5 Pacific Rim National Park Reserve 🇨🇦 Canada
5–10%
6 Great Bear Rainforest 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
7 Joshua Tree National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
8 Bahía de Loreto National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
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