Herring Gull ID

[sebastianbawn]

This Herring Gull was amongst 10 others that visited our caravan last week. He was by far the largest, and most dominant! But his wings suggested to me some juvenile traits (i.e, not solid grey but with some mottling). Can anyone enlighten me?

[leon_heller]

The brown feathers indicate that it's not fully grown yet. It doesn't yet have the characteristic black and white markings (mirrors) on the wing tips, either.

[aeshna5]

I would say this is a 3rd Summer bird + from the size you describe, probably a male.

[sebastianbawn]

Excellent, thanks once more for the info Aeshna. He certainly was a large individual!

[sebastianbawn]

Apologies, thanks to you to Leon. I thought it was still in juvenile plumage, but the size threw me a little

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by sebastianbawn

Apologies, thanks to you to Leon. I thought it was still in juvenile plumage, but the size threw me a little

Technically immature plumage rather than juvenile. In the year it's born it moults out of juvenile plumage into 1st winter, so all other plumages are considered immature rather than juvenile. It attains full adult plumage by it's 4th year, but there is some variability with the large gull species.

[sebastianbawn]

Thanks Aeshna, always wondered how to differentiate between a juvenile and an immature. Thats great

[Ferret]

If this bird was that much bigger were the other birds Herring Gulls or could they have been Common Gulls.

Ferrret