Seagull (Books)

Seagulls are mentioned several times in How to Train Your Dragon I the Book series.

Description
Seagulls are sea birds occurring worldwide along coastlines. Unlike some other sea birds such as auks and albatrosses, sea gulls tend to stay near shore rather than venture out to the open ocean. Though there are over 50 species of seagulls in the Family Laridae, most are some variation of a white or grey base color with black markings.

Seagulls are generally very intelligent and have even documented using tools. They are highly successful and have adapted quite well to human presence.

In particular, the Lesser black-backed gull (Larus fuscus) has been mentioned in the Book series. This seagull migrates up and down the coastlines of the British Isles to West Africa, has a nesting ground in Iceland, and occasionally flies over to North America. Some Vikings would have been familiar with this species.

Function
Though edible, seagulls are rarely eaten. It is possible historic Vikings occasionally are them, as they feasted on a wide variety of seabirds. Gull eggs are also edible, as seen in How to Train Your Dragon.

How to Train Your Dragon
Gulls make their nests on the Long Beach on the Isle of Berk and were disturbed when Hiccup and Fishlegs go there to practice dragon training.

"The gulls' eggs were hatching on the rocks and the parent gulls dive-bombed Hiccup and Fishlegs when they came to the Long Beach to practice."

- Book 1

Fishlegs has a hard time getting Horrorcow to hunt or fish, since she favors vegetables over meat.

"You could have that Black-backed Gull for breakfast, he's barely half your size."

- Fishlegs to Horrorcow