BIRDS

Herring Gull, Larus argentatus

Family Laridae (Gulls, Terns)

Size: 25"

Range: Throughout the United States

Habitat: Wetlands, coastal beaches, fields

The widespread herring gull occurs across the North American continent. It is a large, relatively thin, white-headed gull with a pale gray back and white underparts. The bill is thick and yellow, with a reddish spot at the tip of the lower mandible. The primaries are black with white-spotted tips. The nonbreeding adult has brown streaking across the nape and neck. The legs are pink, and the eyes are pale yellow to ivory colored. Herring gulls are opportunistic feeders, eating fish, worms, crumbs, and trash. They are known to drop shellfish from the air to crack open their shells.

Track size: 3" wide x 2¾" long

Description of Track: Feet are artiodactyl, with toe one to the rear and toes two, three, and four to the front. The three forward toes are of almost equal length, and the outer toes are fairly straight, unlike the inward-curving toes of the ducks and geese. The rear toe is very small and often does not register, or does so only as a small dot of the claw. The complete webbing between the front toes is relatively straight across but may not register clearly on hard surfaces. This track is similar to other gulls, differing mostly by size.