HERRING GULL 



51. Larus argentatus. 24 in. 



Adults in summer, white, with gray mantle, and black 

 primaries tipped with white. In winter, the head and 

 neck are streaked below with grayish brown. Bills of 

 adults, yellow with red spot on lower mandible; eye 

 yellow; feet flesh color; bill of young, flesh color with 

 a blackish tip. These are the most abundant of the 

 larger gulls and the best known because of their south- 

 erly distribution. Several of the smaller Maine islands 

 have colonies of thousands of birds each, and in winter 

 great numbers of them are seen in all the harbors along 

 our seacoast. Young gulls are born covered with down, 

 and can run swiftly and swim well. 



Notes. " Cack-cack-cack " and very noisy squawkings 

 when disturbed at their breeding grounds. 



Nest. A hollow in the ground, or a heap of weeds 

 and trash. The three eggs are olive-gray, spotted with 

 black (2.8x1.7). 



Range. Breeds from Maine, the Great Lakes and Da- 

 kotas northward; winters south to the Gulf of Mexico. 



