Which Gull?

[Dogghound]

Is this a herring gull? the legs look abit pale, and the head has a dark bluey/grey to it. Also seemed abit smaller, I presume its an adult by the red spot on the bill, but my knowledge is limited on these.

Thanks.

[Jason Green]

Hi Dogghound

Yes, it's a Herring gull feeling tired The spotty head is the winter plumage setting in.

Take care,

Jason

[Dogghound]

What do the darker feathers on the head mean? Ive not seen this then again I dont normally look

[johnwray205]

Yes herring gull

[Dutchess]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

What do the darker feathers on the head mean? Ive not seen this then again I dont normally look

The dark feathers tell you it's a juvenile. Albeit one that will probably be all grown-up by next year. The chicks are very brown in their first year, and each season the brown gets less and less as the adult plumage takes over. Same goes for the brownish markings on the bill. This one could be 3 years old. Herring Gulls can live up to 30 odd years, so it is a fairly long process growing the full adult plumage.

This comes from one who lives on the south coast, and has Herring Gulls in abundance

hth

D.

[Adam Cheeseman]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

What do the darker feathers on the head mean?

winter plumage.

cheers,

adam

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by Adam Cheeseman

winter plumage.

cheers,

adam

seconded

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by Dutchess

The dark feathers tell you it's a juvenile. Albeit one that will probably be all grown-up by next year. The chicks are very brown in their first year, and each season the brown gets less and less as the adult plumage takes over. Same goes for the brownish markings on the bill. This one could be 3 years old. Herring Gulls can live up to 30 odd years, so it is a fairly long process growing the full adult plumage.

This comes from one who lives on the south coast, and has Herring Gulls in abundance

hth

D.

It's an adult! Many of the larger gulls such as Common, Herring + Lesser Black-back have dark head sreaking in the winter to a greater or lesser degree. By about Feb many have moulted again with white head again.

[Dogghound]

Thanks alot for all of the replies. Its something new to me cheers.

[Dutchess]

Originally Posted by aeshna5

It's an adult! Many of the larger gulls such as Common, Herring + Lesser Black-back have dark head sreaking in the winter to a greater or lesser degree. By about Feb many have moulted again with white head again.

That may well be so. But juveniles have the darker feathers also. Even the RSPB site says so (just checked.)