A dead bird crashed into a garden after being deliberately "shot" off a rooftop.
The gull, which suffered a serious head wound, fell dead from the sky in Bryn Y Fran Avenue, Trethomas, Caerphilly, on Saturday afternoon.
The RSPCA is investigating the incident, which came after a noise like a "car back-firing" was heard in the village at around 1.30pm. The direction of the alleged shot is not known and the firearm in question has not yet been found.
RSPCA inspector Simon Evans said: "The gull had a serious wound with considerable blood loss to its head and appears to have been shot - maybe off the rooftop - and fell dead in a garden. It is shocking that someone could harm an animal in this way."
Gulls and their nests are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Herring gulls are also classed as a species of "conservation concern" in the UK due to falling numbers.
Under UK law, it is illegal to intentionally kill, take or injure wild birds and action can only be taken against them under licence.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the RSPCA appeal line on 0300 123 8018.
