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Gull Identification
updated Jan. 22, 2004
 

This chart was set up by Dave Bontrager for his class in Aquatic Birds which he taught through Coastline College in 1985.
The purpose of the chart was to provide guidelines for identifying Gulls, in particular ADULT gulls, here in Orange County.
    Click here for a formatted document of this chart that will print out better.

For information about Dave's birding classes in 2004, click here.

Gull Identification Chart by Dave Bontrager
SPECIES LEG color BILL color MANTLE EYE MISCELLANEOUS
HEERMANN'S Gull
19" length  51" wingspan		 Black Reddish orange 
with black tip		 Entire body
grayish		 Dark Dark Tail
BONAPARTE'S Gull
13.5" length 33" wingspan		 Reddish Black Pale gray Dark No mottling on head in winter.
Black spot behind eye. 
RING-BILLED Gull
17.5" length 48" wingspan		 Yellow/green Yellow with
black ring		 Pale gray Light Head & Neck
mottled in winter.
MEW Gull
16" length  43" wingspan		 Yellow/green Yellow Medium gray Dark Head & Neck
mottled in winter.
CALIFORNIA Gull
21" length  54" wingspan		 Yellow/green Yellow with
black/red spot		 Medium gray Dark Head & Neck
mottled in winter.
HERRING Gull
25" length 58" wingspan		 Pink/fleshy Yellow with
red spot		 Pale gray
(off white)		 Light Head & Neck
mottled in winter.
Wing tips black
THAYER'S Gull
23" length 55" wingspan		 Pink/fleshy Yellow with
red spot		 Pale to Medium
gray		 Dark Head & Neck
mottled in winter.
Some black in wing tips.
WESTERN Gull
25" length 58" wingspan		 Pink/fleshy Yellow with
red spot		 Dark gray Light Head & Neck
mottled in winter.
GLAUCOUS-WINGED Gull
26" length58" wingspan		 Pink/fleshy Yellow with
red spot		 Pale gray Dark Head & Neck
mottled in winter.
Pale wing tips.

Additional Gull Information:
 
Tail Color: Most adult gulls have pure white tails except for Heermann's Gulls. 
xxxx The leading edge of the Bonaparte's Gull wing is white.
xxxxx xxxxx
Color of Primaries: The underside of the primaries on a Herring Gull is dark.
XXXX The underside of the primaries on both the Thayer's Gull and the Glaucous-winged Gull is pale. 

Last Modified July 8, 2007

Sea & Sage Audubon Society
PO Box 5447 • Irvine, CA 92616 • 949-261-7963
http://www.seaandsageaudubon.org