Herring Gull Photo Index

Herring Gull Larus argentatus Adult with very white head acquired by December, West Midlands, Dec 21st 2005

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By mid to late December, Herring Gulls may become very white-headed, particularly individuals of the race argenteus. They may look very different from surrounding gulls with heavily streaked heads, particularly Herring Gulls of the race argentatus. Although argenteus has a relatively pale mantle, in the light conditions often prevailing in late winter afternoons, differences in shades of grey can become more difficult to perceive. Under these circumstances there is a danger that such white-headed birds can be misidentified as Yellow-legged Gulls Larus michahellis. If the individual portrayed above were observed among other gulls on the water, and its leg colour thereby unobservable, it could well be misidentified as a Yellow-legged Gull  by the incautious. Thus, it is especially important from December onwards to use a full suite of characters in identifying Yellow-legged Gull.

© A. R. Dean