Common Gulls
The Common Gull is a medium-sized gull. The north American subspecies is commonly referred to as the Mew Gull although that name is also used by some authorities for the whole species.
The Common Gull is noticeably smaller and more gentle looking than the Herring Gull. It is grey above and white below with greenish-yellow legs. It has black wingtips with large white "mirrors". Young birds have scaly black-brown upperparts and a neat wing pattern and grey legs and take 2 to 3 years to reach maturity. In winter, the head is streaked grey and the bill often has a poorly defined blackish band near the tip which is sometimes sufficiently obvious to cause confusion with the Ring-billed Gull. The call is a high-pitched "laughing" cry.
The Common Gull breeds colonially near water or in marshes in north Europe, north west north America and north Asia. It is most numerous in Europe with over half (possibly as much as 80 to 90%) of the world population.
In the UK, the Common Gull can be found in summer along the coasts and inland marshes and lakes of Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England. Elsewhere in England and Wales, it can be found in winter on farmland, on marshes and lakes and on the coast.
Date: 10th June 2007
Location: Tarbet, Sutherland
The Common Gull is noticeably smaller and more gentle looking than the Herring Gull. It is grey above and white below with greenish-yellow legs. It has black wingtips with large white "mirrors". Young birds have scaly black-brown upperparts and a neat wing pattern and grey legs and take 2 to 3 years to reach maturity. In winter, the head is streaked grey and the bill often has a poorly defined blackish band near the tip which is sometimes sufficiently obvious to cause confusion with the Ring-billed Gull. The call is a high-pitched "laughing" cry.
The Common Gull breeds colonially near water or in marshes in north Europe, north west north America and north Asia. It is most numerous in Europe with over half (possibly as much as 80 to 90%) of the world population.
In the UK, the Common Gull can be found in summer along the coasts and inland marshes and lakes of Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England. Elsewhere in England and Wales, it can be found in winter on farmland, on marshes and lakes and on the coast.
Date: 10th June 2007
Location: Tarbet, Sutherland
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Also in: Gulls
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