Taxonomy/Description

They are in the order Charadriiformes which groups them together with shorebirds. They are in the family Laridae which consists of gulls. Herring Gulls are larger gulls as they are 25 inches (64cm) in size with a 58 inch (147 cm) wingspan which allows for their excellent flight. They are monochromatic which means that both males and females look alike. Adult breeding Herring Gulls have a white body with a pale gray mantle. Their bill is fairly large with a red spot on the lower mandible. They have yellow eyes and pinkish legs. They have a white tail and black primaries that have white tips and 2 white mirrors on the outer primaries. During the nonbreeding season, adults have blurry brown streaking on their head and neck.

It takes a Herring Gull 4 years to reach its adult plumage. Juvenile Herring Gulls have a black bill and black legs. They have brown body plumage with brown primary and secondary feathers which give them a "dusky" appearance. The bill of a second-year gull is pinkish but still has a black tip. Their head, neck, upper breast and belly are pale brown while the primary feathers are still dark brown. They have a gray back and a white tail with a black band at the end. A third-year Herring Gull looks like an adult nonbreeding gull but does not have the red spot on the bill, wing pattern and usually still has a dark band on its tail.

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Habitat/Diet

Herring Gulls are found wintering in most of the southern United States and into parts of Mexico. They are absent around the Appalachian Mountains. They are found only during the summer in eastern and central Canada. Herring Gulls are year-round residents around the Great Lakes Region, along the eastern seaboard and northeastern Canada. Herring Gulls are the most common gull in North America. They prefer habitats of coasts, bays, cliffs, lakes, sewage outlets and dumps. Many times they will be seen following ships.

Herring Gulls are scavengers and will eat items from garbage to bird eggs to berries. They are an opportunistic predator and will feed on the young of other gulls as well. They forage by picking food items off the surface of the ground and sand. They will also take food from the surface or just below the water while they are floating on the surface of the water.

Behavior/Reproduction  

Herring Gulls will participate in courtship feeding displays. They also have a choking display where their swollen neck is held in a "S" shape while their breast is pointed at the ground. The male will toss his head, stretch his neck and call for the female. Herring Gulls are monogamous and have one brood per year. They nest colonially and are very territorial about their nest site. Nest sites are usually located on the ground of rocky surfaces or grassy hammocks, both near coasts.  Nests are made of grass or debris and lined with fine feathers. Sites are usually used every year and are constantly modified. Both males and females build the nest. Females will lay 3 eggs that vary in color from olive to light-blue to cinnamon and are marked with brown. Both sexes will incubate the eggs for the 24-28 day period. The development of the young is semiprecocial which means they are mobile, fed and remain at the nest. Both parents will care for the young who are able to fly after 35 days. The young will continue to be fed for 40 days postfledging which is considered to be young for a gull.

Where to see them in WNY

Herring Gulls are found year-round in the WNY Area and can be seen along the Niagara River, Lake Erie and many areas slightly inland of waterways.