The western gull (Larus occidentalis), which has spectacular white plumage with a dark slate-grey mantle, is the only gull that nests along most of the Pacific Coast from Washington to Baja. It will nest near colonies of California sea lions, scavenging any sea lion pups that die of natural causes. To break open the shells of its prey – such as sea urchins and clams – the western gull drops them from high in the air to hard surfaces below. It will also harass cormorants and pelicans, forcing them to regurgitate their catch, which the gull quickly gobbles up. It was one of the stars of Alfred Hitchcock's famous movie, The Birds, which was filmed in Bodega Bay, California.
