Common Gull. Illustration: Mike Langman (rspb-images.com)
Despite its name, this gull is not that common. It resembles a small Herring Gull but with all-dark eyes, greenish legs and a smallish yellow bill. In winter it has a streaked head and a duller bill with a dark band.
Herring Gull. Illustration: Mike Langman (rspb-images.com)
Large and familiar, Red-listed Herring Gulls are the typical ‘seagull’. Their large size, pink legs, pale eyes and heavy bill complete with a distinctive red spot help separate them from the smaller Common Gull.
Lesser Black-backed Gull. Illustration: Mike Langman (rspb-images.com)
Similar in size to the Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gulls are sleeker-looking with longer, yellow legs. Their black wing-tips have smaller white spots than a Herring Gull’s, which can be useful for identification.
Great Black-backed Gull. Illustration: Mike Langman (rspb-images.com)
The largest gull in the world, similar in size to a Red Kite. With a jet-black back and upper wings, these birds stand out. Pink legs rule out confusion with the Lesser Black-backed Gull.
