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A large, white-headed gull with pink legs, breeding adults have black wingtips with
white “windows” on their first two primaries and a yellow bill with red spots
underneath. Immature plumages are difficult to distinguish from those of other immature
and wintering species. The light colored iris, pink legs and lack of black on the bill
will distinguish Herring Gulls from California Gulls in breeding plumage. Pink legs and
lighter colored mantles contrast with the bright yellow legs and dark mantles of breeding
Lesser Black-blacked Gulls. Herring Gulls also hybridize with Lesser Black-backed,
Glaucous and Glaucous-winged gulls. Herring Gulls are opportunistic feeders but feed
primarily on fish and invertebrates. Within the Great Plains, they nest primarily on the
northern and eastern edges and winter in the central and southern parts.
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