Vega Gull vs Yellow-footed Gull

Vega Gull

Larus vegae

The Vega gull is similar to the herring gull but is slightly darker grey above. The head of the Vega gull is heavily streaked with brown in winter, especially on the back and sides of the neck forming a collar. The legs are usually bright pink. First- and second-winter Vega gulls are darker than the similar Mongolian gull, notably on the crown of the head where Mongolian gulls even in first- and second-winter are a bit paler. Almost the full body of first- and second-winter Vega gulls displays darker brown flecks and streaks.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Marco Mussita · CC BY 4.0

Yellow-footed Gull

Larus livens

Large1.3 kgMarine

Adults are similar in appearance to the western gull with a white head, dark, slate-colored back and wings, and a thick yellow bill. Its legs are yellow, though first winter birds do display pink legs like those of the western gull. It attains full plumage at three years of age. This species is tied with slaty-backed gull for the world's fourth-largest gull species and is one of the largest gulls in the world, being slightly larger than the western gull. It measures 53 to 72 cm (21 to 28 in) in length and spans 140 to 160 cm (55 to 63 in) across the wings.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Laura Gaudette · CC BY 4.0

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Vega Gull and Yellow-footed Gull.