The short answer is yes—seagulls can show same-sex pair bonding, just like many other animals in nature. While they don’t think about love and attraction the way humans do, researchers have observed male-male and female-female partnerships in many bird species, including gulls. These pairings often involve nesting together, sharing food, and even raising chicks.
But the story of same-sex behavior in seagulls is more fascinating than a simple yes or no. It reveals how flexible, adaptive, and diverse animal behavior can be, and how “natural” doesn’t always look the way we expect.
Same-Sex Pairing in Gulls
Seagulls, especially species like the Western gull, have been studied for decades. Scientists first noticed that female gulls sometimes formed long-term pair bonds with other females. These pairs built nests, laid eggs, and even helped each other raise chicks.
Sometimes, both females would lay eggs in the same nest, creating what’s called a “supernormal clutch.” While not all eggs hatched, the chicks that did were cared for by two devoted mothers. Researchers found that these same-sex partnerships could last for years, showing the depth of the bond.
Why Do Same-Sex Pairings Happen in Seagulls?
The natural world is full of surprises, and there’s no single reason for same-sex behavior in birds. A few common explanations are:
- Population balance: In colonies where there are fewer males than females, some females may bond together as a practical choice.
- Parental success: Two adults raising chicks, regardless of gender, increases survival chances compared to a single mother.
- Bonding and cooperation: Social bonds are central in bird colonies, and same-sex pairings may simply strengthen group survival.
So, while love and sexuality in seagulls aren’t exactly like in humans, the results are similar: lasting partnerships that provide care, companionship, and a way to continue the species.
Same-Sex Behavior Across Bird Species
Seagulls aren’t unique in this. Over 450 animal species show same-sex bonding, from penguins to swans to albatrosses. Famous zoo penguins like Roy and Silo at New York’s Central Park Zoo made headlines when they incubated an egg together and successfully raised a chick.
In the wild, Laysan albatross colonies in Hawaii have also shown high rates of female-female pairings. Just like with gulls, these partnerships involve courtship rituals, nest building, and chick rearing.
What This Teaches Us About Nature
The idea that animals only pair in “male-female” partnerships is outdated. Nature is flexible, and animals adapt to the circumstances of their environment. Seagulls forming same-sex pairs remind us that survival often comes down to cooperation and care, not just traditional roles.
It also challenges the human idea of what’s “natural.” If gulls, penguins, and albatrosses thrive with same-sex bonds, then diversity is simply part of life on Earth.
Final Thoughts
Yes, seagulls can be gay—or more accurately, they can form same-sex pair bonds that look very much like heterosexual ones. These relationships are not only common but also successful, proving that love, in its many forms, is a powerful force in nature.
When we look at the world with open eyes, we see that animals, like humans, don’t fit neatly into boxes. Sometimes, two seagulls just find each other, build a nest, and share a life together—and that’s as natural as it gets.