Very large gull with thick, heavy bill. Adults have dark blackish back and wings; juveniles have a frosty tone and are larger than other gulls, such as the immature American Herring Gull at right.

As juveniles, these slim, long-winged gulls show cold plumage tones and feature an all dark bill, blackish primaries and secondaries, and a dark tail band that contrasts with a whitish rump and tail base. They appear crisply marked with neat, even feather edgings.

Aug 9, 2016 · As the photograph shows, juvenile Herring Gulls are very brown, with a black bill and pink legs. Their fresh juvenile plumage is immaculate, heavily mottled with brown on the head and underparts and also with strong chequering right across the upperparts.

Slender, long-winged gull, slightly smaller than Herring Gull. Adults show dark gray back and yellow legs; in winter note fairly heavy streaking on head and neck. Takes four or five years to reach adult plumage; immatures can be difficult to distinguish from other gulls, especially Herring.

Juvenile mantle, scapular and covert feathers have solidly dark centres, with neat margins, especially to scapulars. Bill all dark, though base with just slightly 'greyer' tinge (partly a function of light). See also juvenile Herring Gull and juvenile Caspian Gull.

Once a rare stray to North America, this European gull has become a very common visitor here. Thousands are found every winter (with smaller numbers at other seasons), mainly along the Atlantic Coast south to Florida and inland to the Great …

Nov 11, 2023 · Though herring gulls and lesser black-backed gulls appear somewhat similar at first glance, a closer look reveals several consistent physical differences between the two species. One of the most noticeable ways to distinguish these two gulls is overall size.

As with all gulls, juvenile and immature plumage is very variable and size is the best identification feature. Great black-backed gulls are commonest along the west coast of Scotland and throughout the Northern Isles. They can be spotted throughout the year in Scotland. This is the most ‘marine’ gull of all five.

Oct 7, 2014 · Juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gulls can be separated from juvenile Great Black-backed Gulls by the smudges around their eye. They also have an entirely black bill unlike juvenile Great Black-backed Gulls that have pink at the base of the bill.

Primarily a bird of the Atlantic Coast, seldom seen inland except around the Great Lakes. Because of its large size and omnivorous feeding habits, the Great Black-back can be a significant predator on other species of birds during the nesting season.