Herring Gull

The herring gull is distinguished from the common gull because he is averaging nearly 20 cm taller, with a total length of about 60 cm. The male is on average slightly larger than the female. In the Netherlands and Belgium (Larus argentatus argenteus) is the kind of distinguishing the flight of the gull by the much stronger beak and the white spot in the black tip of the wing: the gull which is large and oval, with the herring gull smaller and more irregularly shaped. The adult plumage the herring gull has a white head, tail and bottom; the back and the top of the wings are silvery gray. The young of the herring gull is the first winter brown with dark wings and tail. Second winter birds are brown with white on the head and tail and lighter to gray upper parts. Third winter birds have clothes that are similar to the adult plumage but here and there a brown stain. Depending on the subspecies, the bird pink, reddish flesh-colored, greenish or yellow legs. Characteristic of the herring gull, the red spot on the lower mandible. The clutch usually consists of three eggs.