Herring Gull
Breeding adult (American)
Large gull with a somewhat large, but slim bill and robust body. Breeding adults have clean white heads and underparts with pale gray backs and wings. Note pale legs and yellow eye.
© Simon Boivin | Macaulay LibraryQuebec, July 19, 2019Nonbreeding adult (American)
Nonbreeding adults have extensive tan streaking on their neck. Note the pale gray upperparts and the pale eye.
© G & B | Macaulay LibraryConnecticut, October 22, 2016Breeding adult
Fairly large gull with a thick bill, pale eye, light-gray back and wings, and black wingtips.
© Benjamin Clock | Macaulay LibraryNew York, July 21, 2008Not all videos have soundThird winter (American)
Third winter birds start to acquire pale gray feathers on their back, but still have extensive tan streaking on their head and neck. Note pale yellow eye.
© Evan Lipton | Macaulay LibraryRhode Island, December 26, 2016Third winter (American)
This more advanced third winter bird looks nearly like an adult, with its pale gray back, but it still has streaking on the neck and a black band around its bill.
© Evan Lipton | Macaulay LibraryRhode Island, December 26, 2016Breeding adult
Characteristic "long call" and display involves leaning forward, lowering the head, and giving an extended series of loud cries.
© DAVID BROWN | Macaulay LibraryMaine, July 10, 2007Not all videos have soundSecond winter (American)
The second winter gull is heavily streaked throughout with a few gray back feathers coming in. Note dark primaries, lacking white tips.
© Chris Wood | Macaulay LibraryNew York, November 08, 2015Second winter (American)
Some second winter birds have less streaking on their necks and look very pale overall, but note its pale eye and pink legs.
© Alex Lamoreaux | Macaulay LibraryFlorida, February 16, 2017Breeding adults
Pairs often feed each other as part of courtship. Females are usually smaller than males; this one is soliciting food from her partner using begging motions similar to those used by chicks.
© DAVID BROWN | Macaulay LibraryMaine, April 28, 2007Not all videos have soundJuvenile (American)
Juveniles are tan overall with tan-and-white checker boarding on their back. Juveniles have an entirely dark bill and a dark eye.
© Evan Lipton | Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, August 06, 2014Breeding adult (American)
In flight, they look barrel-chested and broad-winged. Pale gray above with dark wingtips with only small white spots (aka "mirrors") on the dark tips.
© Jeremiah Trimble | Macaulay LibraryMaine, May 29, 2017Juvenile and breeding adults
Juveniles are brown with black bills. This one begs and receives regurgitated food from a parent, as the other parent moves in and also eats the food. Afterward, the two adults perform "long calls."
© DAVID BROWN | Macaulay LibraryMaine, August 08, 2007Not all videos have soundJuvenile (American)
Juveniles in flight have dark primaries without the white spots or mirrors and a thick dark band across their tail.
© Louis Bevier | Macaulay LibraryMaine, August 02, 2017Nonbreeding adult (European)
The European subspecies of Herring Gulls are virtually indistinguishable from the American subspecies. Note pale gray back, pale eye, pink legs, and slim bill.
© Adrien Mauss | Macaulay LibraryNord-Pas-de-Calais, October 27, 2016Second winter (European)
Herring Gulls breeding in European are nearly identical to those breeding in North America. The European subspecies tends to be paler, but often not safely separated into subspecies except by location.
© Anya Auerbach | Macaulay LibraryScotland, July 07, 2015Juvenile (European)
Juvenile gulls have heavy tan streaking on their neck and underparts and a checkerboard back.
© Adrien Mauss | Macaulay LibraryNord-Pas-de-Calais, August 22, 2017Juvenile (European)
Juvenile (European) Herring Gulls have a narrower black band across their tail than juvenile (American) Herring Gulls.
© Adrien Mauss | Macaulay LibraryNord-Pas-de-Calais, August 04, 2017Breeding adult (Vega)
Birds breeding in northeastern Siberia and on St. Lawrence Island, Alaska are darker gray above with a red ring around the eye.
© Ian Davies | Macaulay LibraryAlaska, May 22, 2013Juvenile (Vega)
Juvenile (Vega) gulls have paler heads than juvenile (American) Herring Gulls and less tan barring on the undertail coverts.
© Ian Davies | Macaulay LibraryHokkaido, December 26, 2013Habitat
Found along both coasts and near large reservoirs, lakes, and major rivers. They feed in habitats as diverse as open water, mudflats, plowed fields, and garbage dumps, and gather in almost any open space near food.
© Jay McGowan | Macaulay LibraryNew York, July 15, 2017