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Common Gull Larus canus L 40-42cm. Medium-sized gull. Slimmer bodied and smaller billed, than larger Herring Gull. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has grey back and upperwings with white trailing margin; black wingtips have white spots. Plumage is otherwise white. Bill is yellowish and legs are yellowish green. In winter, similar but with dark streaks on head and neck; bill is duller with dark sub-terminal band. Juvenile has pale-margined brown back feathers and upperwings. Head and underparts are pale with dark streaks while neck and breast look grubby. Adult plumage acquired over 2 years. 1st winter is similar to juvenile but has grey back; bill is pink with dark tip. 2nd winter is similar to adult but with more black on outerwing and broader band on bill. Voice Utters a mewing keeow. Status Locally common. Nests close to water, often inland. Outside breeding season, migrants from Europe boost numbers and then widespread on farmland and grassy fields.
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© ROGER TIDMAN/Nature Photographers
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www.naturephotographers.co.uk
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Common Gull Larus canus L 40-42cm. Medium-sized gull. Slimmer bodied and smaller billed, than larger Herring Gull. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has grey back and upperwings with white trailing margin; black wingtips have white spots. Plumage is otherwise white. Bill is yellowish and legs are yellowish green. In winter, similar but with dark streaks on head and neck; bill is duller with dark sub-terminal band. Juvenile has pale-margined brown back feathers and upperwings. Head and underparts are pale with dark streaks while neck and breast look grubby. Adult plumage acquired over 2 years. 1st winter is similar to juvenile but has grey back; bill is pink with dark tip. 2nd winter is similar to adult but with more black on outerwing and broader band on bill. Voice Utters a mewing keeow. Status Locally common. Nests close to water, often inland. Outside breeding season, migrants from Europe boost numbers and then widespread on farmland and grassy fields.