Utah State Bird - California Gull

The Utah State Bird is the California Gull or ( Larcus Californicas ). It can be found throughout Utah’s lakes and reservoirs as well as large urban areas.

The California gull became the state bird of Utah as a result of an incident in 1848 when a swarm of crickets met the new pioneers and started devouring their food supplies.

Suddenly a flock of gulls arrived and ate the crickets drastically cutting their numbers down. The pioneers where so impressed by the act of the birds saving their food supplies that the gull became the unofficial state bird of Utah.

In 1913 the Sea Gull Monument in Salt Lake City was unraveled. The statue which consisted of two birds sitting on a post was set to be a memorable for this event.

In 1955 a bill promoted by Richard C. Howe and signed by Governor J. Bracken Lee was passed making the Californian gull the official bird of the state of Utah.

Appearance

The Bird is typically around 17 inches long and has a wing span around 52 inches. It has a white head, neck, chest and belly. The bird also has bright Yellow eyes.

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