Rare winter visitor to Northern Atlantic Coast. A large, three-year gull, similar to Herring Gull with yellow legs. Alternate Adult has light gray mantle, darker than most Herring Gulls, black wingtips, clean white head and underparts, pale eye, white tail, large yellow bill with red spot near tip, and yellow legs. Basic Adult similar but with sparse streaking on nape and crown, usually lost by midwinter. Second-cycle birds are like adults with patterned wing coverts, dark eyes, and black-tipped bill. First-cycle birds are whitish and brown overall, spotted with brown on flanks, finely streaked on head, with heavily patterned brown wings and coverts, blackish wingtips, black-tipped tail, black bill, and pink legs. First-cycle Yellow-legged looks similar to young Great and Lesser Black-backed Gulls; paler overall than first-year Herring. Most North American records involve adults, probably because of identification challenges with first-year birds.

Length: 61 (cm) Wingspan: 144 (cm)

Habitat:

Coastal areas, open fields, landfills, inland seas.

Behavior:

Scavenging and sometimes aggressive, robbing smaller birds of food items. In regular range, breeds colonially; nest is a mound of vegetation. Sometimes joins flocks with other gulls.

Feeding:

Omnivorous; eats a variety of fish, small animals, carrion, garbage, and scraps.