Heermann's Gull

Larus heermanni

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Identification

Field notes

48 cm (19") Fairly common. Pacific coast. Adult has a unique black tail with a white tip band, red bill, dark gray underbody, trailing white edge on wings, black legs. White head becomes gray in winter.

Immature is uniformly black-brown with a dark-tipped pale bill. Aggressive bird.

Song: hoarse "Kawek" and high pitched "weeee".

Details in the field

Photo gallery

3 photos

Credit: Len Blumin

Credit: David Hofmann

Credit: Ken Schneider

Watch and learn

Videos

1 video

Heermann's Gull, gaviota ploma (Larus heermanni) 4

Credit: Akator Expeditions - David Caro

Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant 2 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Heermann's Gull

2 rules

Rule 1 12 criteria confidence 4

What colour were the LEGS or FEET ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Square or slightly notched at the end · Rounded at the end · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Hooked · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Gull-like, or a Seabird
WHEN was the bird seen ?: Spring · Summer · Fall
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:535-heermann-s-gull:1:1 Source: 535 Heermann's Gull, row 1

Rule 2 12 criteria confidence 4

What colour were the LEGS or FEET ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Square or slightly notched at the end · Rounded at the end · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Hooked · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Gull-like, or a Seabird
WHEN was the bird seen ?: Winter
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:535-heermann-s-gull:2:1 Source: 535 Heermann's Gull, row 2