Herring gulls are large, noisy gulls found throughout the year around our coasts and inland around rubbish tips, fields, large reservoirs and lakes, especially during winter. Adults have light grey backs, white under parts, and black wing tips with white 'mirrors'. Their legs are pink, with webbed feet and they have heavy, slightly hooked bills marked with a red spot. Young birds are mottled brown. They have suffered moderate declines over the past 25 years and over half of their UK breeding population is confined to fewer than ten sites.
Key ID Features
Summer adults have variable but generally pale grey back and pure white head, neck and breast.
Legs are pale pink and large bill is yellow with a red spot near the lower tip.
Black wing tips have 3 or 4 distinct white spots visible in flight and at rest.
In winter head becomes streaked grey-brown.
Juveniles are brown blotched with a dark bill.
Overview
Scientific name: Larus argentatus
Family: Gulls (Laridae)
Where to see them:
Herring gulls are widespread and can easily be seen at virtually any seaside town in the breeding season, and inland all year round, especially at rubbish tips, playing fields and reservoir roosts.
Seen in UK:
All year round.
What they eat
Ominivorous - a scavenger.
Text (c) RSPB, used with permission
For more information click here
Photographer: Tim Tapley
