American Herring Gull (smithsonianus)

(last update: October 30, 2015)

American Herring Gull 1cy December

Similar looking species

From an American point of view, it may be nice to compare local smithsonianus with argentatus from Europe and vegae from Asia. Here are some example birds.

Vega Gull vegae 1st cycle birds

above: Vega Gull (vegae) 1st cycle (2CY), January 25 2011, Choshi, Japan. Picture: Terry Townshend. Very similar to European Herring Gull. Dark secondary bar. Pale panel on inner primaries reaching outer secondaries S1-S3 and still innerweb of P6 largely pale.
below: Vega Gull (vegae) 1st cycle (2CY), January 27 2011, Choshi, Japan. Picture: Terry Townshend. Very similar to European Herring Gull. Tail pattern typical. Starting to gain some grey scapulars.

European Herring Gull argentatus 1st cycle birds

above: European Herring Gull argentatus argenteus YUAC 1st cycle (2CY), February 09 2013, Calais, France. Picture: Jean-Michel Sauvage. Banded in Belgium. Very streaked and spotted on underparts and especiaaly in neck. Note vent without obvious spotting or lining.
below: European Herring Gull 1st cycle (2CY), February 07 2013, Katwijk, the Netherlands. Picture: Mars Muusse. Base of rectrices largely white, with thin rows of spots, may form a line. Uppertail coverts very pale, dark markings much thinner than pale parts. No soft dark texture in neck and side of breast; instead underparts and neck with much lining and spotting.

below: European Herring Gull 1st cycle (1CY), December 03 2013, Katwijk, the Netherlands. Picture: Mars Muusse. Base of rectrices largely white, with thin rows of spots. Undertail coverts very pale, dark markings much thinner than pale parts. No soft dark texture; instead underparts and neck with much lining and spotting.

Banded birds

East coast birds

West coast birds

Great Lakes

South coast birds