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Henry Sowell

Vol. I · Est. 2026

Pl. CLXXXIV
Field-journal plate: American Herring Gull
The American Herring Gull plate as rendered on the e-ink frame
As rendered on the frame

The Birds · Plate CLXXXIV

American Herring Gull

Larus smithsonianus

Laridae · Taxon 1578489

Length56–66 cm (22 in–2 ft 2 in), sexes similar
Wingspan120–150 cm (3 ft 11 in–4 ft 11 in), sexes similar
Weight800–1,250 g (1 lb 12 oz–2 lb 12 oz), sexes similar

Field marks

  1. Large, robust body with broad, pointed wings
  2. Heavy bill; yellow with a red spot in adults, dark in young birds
  3. Pale eyes and dull pink legs in adults
  4. Breeding adults have a white head and underparts with a pale-gray back; nonbreeding adults have gray-brown or dusky streaking on the head and neck
  5. Black adult wingtips show small white spots
  6. Immatures are mottled brown, with a dark tail band when young

HabitatOccupies water-associated habitats including coasts, bays, beaches, open water, mudflats, lakes, major rivers, marshes, fields, docks, and refuse sites. It commonly nests on islands or other open ground and sometimes on gravel roofs.

BehaviorAn opportunistic omnivore that forages while walking, swimming, or flying; takes food from land or the water’s surface, sometimes plunge-dives, steals from other birds, scavenges, and drops hard-shelled prey onto rocks to break it open.

Palette

whitepale graymottled brownblackdull pink