Herring Gull
Herring Gull
Breeding adult
- Large, slender gull with long bill
- Pale gray back, bright white underparts
- Stout yellow bill with red spot near tip of lower half
- Pink legs
- © Laura Erickson, MN, Tettegouche State Park, June 2010
Herring Gull
Breeding adult
- Large gull with long yellow bill
- Gray back, bright white head and underparts
- Red spot near tip of lower bill
- Pink legs
- © Charlie Hickey, NJ, Cape May, April 2010
Herring Gull
Breeding adult
- Large, slender gull with long yellow bill
- Pale gray back, bright white head and underparts
- Red spot near tip of lower bill
- Pink legs
- © Jim Paris, NJ, Barnegat Inlet, March 2009
Herring Gull
Nonbreeding adult
- Large and slender gull with pale gray streaks on white head
- Pale gray back and wings
- Unmarked white tail
- Black wing-tips with bold white spots along edges
- © Brian L. Sullivan, CA, Monterey, February 2007
Herring Gull
Nonbreeding adult
- Large gull with long, narrow wings
- Unmarked white tail
- White head with pale gray streaking on crown and neck
- Long yellow bill with black and red spot near tip of lower half
- © Michael J. Andersen, NY, Bullhead Bay, Suffolk County, December 2009
Herring Gull
Nonbreeding adult
- Large, slender gull with long yellow bill
- Pink legs
- Pale gray back
- Red spot near tip of lower bill
- © Gary Tyson, NJ, Cape May, September 2010
Herring Gull
Juvenile
- Large, slender gull
- Uniform dark brown overall
- Heavily patterned wings
- Long, black or dark gray bill
- © Kevin T. Karlson
Herring Gull
Juvenile
- Large, slender gull
- Uniform dark brown overall
- Darker wing tips
- Mostly black or dark gray bill
- © Gary Tyson, NJ, Cape May, September 2010
Herring Gull
First winter
- Large, long-billed gull
- Mostly dirty brown throughout, with patterned wings
- Paler head with dark eye
- Bill mostly black but dull gray at base
- © Brian L. Sullivan, CA, Moss Landing, March 2009
Herring Gull
First winter
- Large, long-billed gull with long, narrow wings
- Mostly dirty brown overall with paler head and coarsely-patterned wings
- Inner primary feathers paler than outer feathers
- Dark eye and mostly black bill
- © Brian L. Sullivan, CA, Pt. Pinos, Monterey, February 2007
Herring Gull
Second winter
- Large, long-winged gull
- Pale gray/brown throughout
- Densely patterned wings, with bright gray inner primaries contrasting with darker tips
- Pink bill with black tip
- © Brian L. Sullivan, CA, Pt. Pinos, Monterey, February 2007
Herring Gull
Second winter
- Large, long-billed gull
- Mostly white head with faint streaks and yellow eye
- Pink legs
- Mottled brown body with patches of pale gray on back
- © Robinsegg, UT, Farmington Bay, February 2009
Herring Gull
Third winter
- Large, slender-bodied gull
- Pink legs
- Mostly gray wings with some brown patterning on coverts
- Mostly white head with yellow eye and black-tipped bill
- © Christopher L. Wood, NY, Ithaca, January 2008
Herring Gull
Third winter
- Large, long-winged gull
- Mostly pale gray back with some dusky brown on wings
- Pale head
- White rump and tail with dark band at tip
- © Brian L. Sullivan, CA, Lovers' Point, Monterey, January 2007
Similar Species
Breeding adult
- Smaller and chunkier than Herring Gull
- Yellow bill with black ring
- Yellow-green legs
- © Nancy Clark, Gimli, MB, May 2011
First winter
- Similar to third winter Herring Gull, but smaller and chunkier
- Stubby pink bill with clean-cut black tip
- Densely-streaked head with black eye
- © Michael J. Andersen, Brooklyn, NY, December 2009
Breeding adult
- Smaller than Herring Gull with more rounded head
- Black and red spots on lower bill
- © Robinsegg, Salt Lake City, UT, May 2009
First summer
- Smaller than Herring Gull with more rounded head
- Distinctive bright white head, even at young age
- Long wings
- © Tim Lenz, CA, August 2010