Breeding Location:
Seashore, rocky or sandy
Breeding Type:
Monogamous, Colonial
Breeding Population:
Abundant
Egg Color:
Green, gray, blue or brown with dark streaks
Number of Eggs:
2 - 3
Incubation Days:
23 - 27
Egg Incubator:
Both sexes
Nest Material:
Lined with plant material.
Migration:
Migratory
Overview
Herring Gull: Large gull, pale gray back and wings with black tips, white head, neck breast. White tail and underparts. Bill is yellow with red spot near tip; legs are pink. Strong steady flight with deep wing beats. Soars on thermals and updrafts. Most widespread North American Gull.
Range and Habitat
Herring Gull: Breeds from Alaska east across northern Canada to Maritime Provinces, south to British Columbia, north-central Canada, and Great Lakes, and along Atlantic coast to North Carolina. Winters in all but its northernmost breeding areas; also along coasts, rivers, and lakes in the southeast and west from southern Alaska south to Baja California; also found in Eurasia. Nests on open beaches, islands, or shorelines; stays on large lakes, wetlands, rivers, landfills and public areas during migration and winter.
Breeding and Nesting
Herring Gull: Two to three gray, green, blue, or brown eggs with brown, lavender, and black streaks are laid in a shallow ground scrape lined with plants and sticks. Incubation ranges from 23 to 27 days and is carried out by both parents.
Foraging and Feeding
Herring Gull: Feeds mostly on aquatic invertebrates and small fish; gleans the ground for insects and worms; scavenges dead fish and garbage at landfills; also eats bird eggs and young.
Readily Eats
Vocalization
Herring Gull: Makes a loud, rollicking call, "kuk-kuk-kuk", "yucca-yucca-yucca", or other raucous cries.
Similar Species
Herring Gull: California Gull is larger, has pink legs, yellow eyes, paler back, and thicker yellow bill. Ring-billed Gull is much smaller, has yellow legs, and a complete black ring on the bill.
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