Gulls

Gull is the common name for the most well known bird species that frequent the shoreline. They vary in size and description depending on the species.

There is problem of identification with non adult birds as the plumage differs only slightly between the gulls.

Herring Gull Larus argentatus

This is by far the most common gull found in Cornwall. The herring gull originally nested on cliff ledges. The herring gull is a most adaptive bird and over the last century has expanded its nesting range to include town rooftops. This has brought it into conflict with man. Their noisy  morning calls have been the cause of many complaints by visitors of disturbed sleep.

Herring gulls will eat almost anything which this has led to problems in seaside towns, as the birds rip rubbish bags and strew the contents.

Herring gulls have learned that if they harry visitors that are carrying food, it is often dropped, this they immediately swoop on.

There has been a campaign to restrict the numbers of these birds, with signs saying Do Not Feed The Seagulls being very common.

Herring gulls have a mainly grey upper body and a white underbody. The wings are tipped with black. The legs are pink.

The red patch on a herring gull’s bill is the indicator to show the chicks where to peck for food.

Their eggs are a light brown with darker spots. The young birds quickly reach partial independence. As with all gull juveniles it is hard to distinguish between the species.

In their second year they get their adult plumage, the only difference being brown specks in their white uppers. The brown specks gradually disappear over subsequent years.

Common Gull Larus canus

Similar to the herring gull, but slighter in build. They can be distinguished from the herring gull by the lack of a red spot on their bill and by their yellowish legs.

Black-backed Gulls

There are two species, the lesser and the greater black-backed.

They are very large birds, particularly the greater, the largest bird you will see at the seaside, with a wingspan of over 1.5 metres.

They have a black upper body, and white under body and head. The bill has a red spot.

Black Headed Gull Larus ridibundus

This gull has a black head. The upper body is light grey and white. The feet and bill are a reddish brown.

The black headed gull’s head is not truly black but a dark chocolate brown. The head in winter loses its colour and has a white plummage.