common gull; mew gull
Specifically refers to the common gull (Larus canus). In everyday Japanese, カモメ often covers seagulls in general, but this sense is the precise ornithological meaning.
Gulls are gathering in flocks at the harbor.
The common gull is a medium-sized gull.
seagull; gull
General term for seagulls and gulls (family Laridae). This is the most common everyday meaning.
Seagulls are crying at the beach.
A seagull is flying over the waves.
The tourists were feeding the seagulls.
Seagulls are calling in the distance.
Used for counting birds, so 鴎 (seagulls) are counted with 羽.
glaucous gull; burgomaster
seagull-tail chignon
glaucous-winged gull
black-legged kittiwake
black-headed gull; hooded gull
Katakana spelling is common for this bird name; usually written in kana.
Hiragana spelling is also used, especially in literary or casual contexts.
Variant kanji form; even rarer than 鴎. It is a rarely used kanji form.
Kanji form; rarely used in modern writing. It is a rarely used kanji form.
The origin is uncertain. The word is native Japanese, and the kanji forms 鴎 and 鷗 are Chinese characters adopted for their meaning.