OTHER NAMES- Common Gull, Harbor Gull, Sea Gull, Lake Gull, Winter Gull
Although generally called "seagulls," most gulls do not have the need of living far out at sea. They do fly far into the inner regions, always, following streams, lakes, and shore lines. Where I live in the Finger Lakes Region of New York State there is no body of water whether a Great Lake, Finger Lake, pond, river or stream that doesn't host a colony of Herring Gulls.
They consume a variety of foods, fruit, eggs, nestlings, maritime animals, trash, and animal or bird remains. They are very fond of carrion. Because their diet varies they live in many habitats. Adults may eat other gulls' chicks.
One peculiar habit is shell breaking. When the water is low they will fly over the mud or sand flats until they find a clam. They will pick up the clam and fly over the beach where the sand became hard packed. They fly over the hard packed sand at a height of about forty or fifty feet and then drop the clam. They drop the clam as many times as necessary until the shell breaks. Once the shell breaks they enjoy the inside tasty morsels.
When we took the boat from Boston to Martha's Vineyard the gulls flew with the boat and took offerings from the passengers whether the people held the food in their hand or tossed it in the air.
The herring gull has pink legs and feet, a gray back, white dappled black wing tips, and a red spot on its yellow bill. When juveniles knock at the red blot the parents disgorge the food for the juvenile birds to eat. The dappled brown feathers of young gulls progressively whitens over several years as they age. The herring gull is 20 to 24 inches long at adulthood. You still may confuse the much smaller common gull with the herring gull. Always look for the red spot at the tip of its yellow bill. The pink legs and its yellow eyes also help to identify the herring gull. They do not get full adult plumage until the fourth year. It is very difficult to tell the difference between some young gulls; especially those of the herring gull and the lesser black-backed gull.
Herring Gulls nests on the ground, typically in the sand dunes, making crude nests of seaweed, trash, and sticks. The dirt nests are usually a simple cavity in the ground. They some times nest in trees. The tree nests are bulky and well built of inter woven grasses and moss.
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