Heermann's Gull vs Short-billed Gull

Heermann's Gull

Larus heermanni

Large500 gCoastal

This species looks distinctly different from other gulls. Adults have a medium gray body, blackish-gray wings and tail with white edges, and a red bill with a black tip. The head is dusky gray in non-breeding plumage and white in breeding plumage. Immatures resemble non-breeding adults but are darker and browner, and the bill is pink till the second winter. A few birds, no more than 1 in 200, have white primary coverts, which form a showy spot on the upper wing.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Toffel · Public domain

Short-billed Gull

Larus brachyrhynchus

The short-billed gull has a length 40–45 cm (16–18 in) and a wingspan 100–120 cm (39–47 in). It is smaller than other gulls in the Common gull complex, with a shorter bill and longer wings. Its wings appear long and narrow in flight relative to its short body. In breeding plumage, adults have a white head, pale eyes surrounded by a red orbital skin, yellow legs and bill with no markings. In winter, the head is marked with brown mottling, the eye orbital skin becomes grayish and the bill becomes duller with a faint dark marking.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: TRinaud · CC BY 4.0

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Heermann's Gull and Short-billed Gull.