6 recent observations
Description #
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. A ring of bare yellow skin is seen around the pale eye. Young birds are mottled brown. The European herring gull can be differentiated from the closely related, slightly smaller lesser black-backed gull by the latter's dark grey (not actually black) back and upper wing plumage and its yellow legs and feet.
Measurements #
Length: 54 - 60 cm
Wingspan: 1.3 - 1.5 m
Weight: 0.69 - 1.44 kg
Gallery #
