Heerman's gull
Larus heermanni
Identification Tips:
- Length: 15 inches
- Medium-sized gull
- Fairly short, small bill with indistinct gonydeal angle
Adult alternate:
- Bright red bill with dark tip
- Black legs
- Dark eye
- White head
- Dark gray back and upperwings
- Gray underparts
- White tertial crescent
- Black primaries
- White trailing edge to wings
- Black tail with thin white terminal band
Adult basic:
- Like adult alternate but dark streaks about gray head
First-year:
- Pale bill with black tip
- Black legs
- Black plumage
- Wings dark brown
Second-year:
- Like first-winter but plumage grayer
Similar species:
The very dark plumage of this gull make it unlikely to be confused with
other gull species.
Length and wingspan from: Robbins, C.S., Bruun, B., Zim, H.S., (1966). Birds of North America. New York: Western Publishing Company, Inc.