The Heermann Gull 
No. 281 
Heermann’s Gull 
A. O. U. No. 57. Blasipus heermanni (Cassin). 
Synonym.— White-headed Gull. 
Description. — Adult in breeding plumage: Mantle plumbeous-slate; head and 
neck shading into deep ashy gray of remaining plumage; upper tail-coverts light ashy; 
greater wing-coverts and tertials tipped with ashy and whitish; wing-quills and tail 
black, the latter broadly, the former (except 1st and 2nd primaries) narrowly, tipped 
with white. Bill rich vermilion, tipped narrowly with black; feet and legs reddish 
black. Adult in winter: Head and neck lightly streaked with dusky. Young of 
the year: Entire plumage sooty brown, lightening on throat, blackening on quills 
and tail; a little whitish skirting below, more on wing-coverts; also, or not, tail faintly 
white-tipped. Bill (drying) yellowish at base. Immature: Mingled sooty and plum¬ 
beous; head darker and more uniform sooty blackish in contrast with cervix, but throat 
white; no white on quills or tail. Bill dull orange basally, black at tip. Probably 
attains maturity the third year. Length of adult; 444.5-533.4 (17.50-21.00); wing 
342.9 (13.50); bill 44.5 (1.75); depth at angle 14 (.55); tarsus 55.9 (2.20). 
Recognition Marks. —Crow size; black and vermilion beak; dark body plumage 
unmistakable in any feather; mellow notes. 
Nesting. — Does not breed in California. Nest: A mere depression in loose 
soil, unlined. Eggs: 2 or 3; of somewhat lighter coloration than “normal gull type,” 
and more finely spotted. Av. of 28 eggs in M. C. O. coll.; 59.3 x 41.9 (2.335 x 1.65); 
index 71. Season: c. April 8. 
General Range. —Coasts of western North America. Breeds in March and 
April on the Tres Marias Islands near Tepic, and upon islands in the Gulf of California, 
north at least to Ildefonso. At other seasons ranges north along the seacoast to Van¬ 
couver Island and the Gulf of Georgia. 
Distribution in California. —More or less common along the coasts and 
harbors throughout the year, but numbers greatly augmented in early winter by the 
return of northern tourists, and depleted in early spring by withdrawal of breeding 
birds. 
Authorities.— Cassin ( Earns heermanni), Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., vol. vi.. 
1852, p. 187 (orig. desc.; type locality, San Diego); Howell , Pac. Coast Avifauna, no. 
12, 1917, p. 28 (s. Calif, ids.); Willett, Condor, vol. xx., 1918, p. 122, fig. (aberrant wing 
markings). 
A-OWNII ownh ownh ownh ownh! A-ownh owiih ownh ownh ownh! 
They are southern voices that are speaking, and the notes produce a 
pleasing complex of impression, for they are sometimes drawling and 
indolent, in spite of their accelerando cadence, and they are mellow and 
limpid, for all of their nasal twang or their underlying suggestion of feline 
moroseness. You have offended the dignity of an orderly meeting, and 
these are protests. This ledgeful of dark birds, which you have just 
disturbed by your thoughtless approach, is none other than the August 
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