Gulls can be a nightmare to identify. In the Sibley Guide to Western Birds, there are 23 listed species listed. That doesn’t sound too bad, but when you take into consideration all the color changes they go through from a juvenile to an adult that usually encompasses three years, then it gets tough. I’ve taken an easy one that is readily identifiable in both juvenile and adult form although the juvenile can sometimes be mistaken for a Jaeger.

 

Description:  The adult is only one that has a red bill with a black tip. The Juvenile has a pale bill with a dark tip (hard to see in this picture). Both have dark legs. The juvenile is an overall dark brown.

 

Habitat/Range:   These gulls are common all along the west coast, the Gulf of California and down as far as Guatemala. They are seldom found inland but can be found out to sea.

 

Nesting:  90% of them nest in Baja California colonially on the ground. Their nests are saucer shaped made of twigs, grass, weeds and feathers. They are monogamous, but little is known of the breeding biology. They usually lay 2-3 eggs.

Diet:   Shrimp, mollusks, insects and sometimes scavenges.

 

Interesting Fact: Heermann's Gull sometimes pirates prey from other seabirds, particularly Brown Pelicans, with which it often associates.