Heermann's Gull vs Grey Gull

Larus heermanni compared with Larus modestus

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Heermann's Gull Grey Gull
Scientific Name Larus heermanni Larus modestus
Order Charadriiformes Charadriiformes
Family Laridae Laridae
Conservation Status Near Threatened Least Concern
Length
Wingspan 67.2 cm (26.5 in) 63.6 cm (25.0 in)
Weight 448.26666666666665 g (15.81 oz) 325.0 g (11.46 oz)
Diet -- --
Clutch Size 1-2 1-4
Population Trend

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

Heermann's Gull only

None

Grey Gull only

Conservation Status

Near Threatened

Heermann's Gull

Least Concern

Grey Gull

About These Birds

Heermann's Gull

Heermann's Gull, 46–51 cm, is distinctive — dark grey body, white head (breeding), red bill. Breeds almost entirely on Isla Rasa in the Gulf of California, then disperses north along the Pacific coast to British Columbia. Kleptoparasite; steals fish from Brown Pelicans. Near Threatened; range highly restricted.

Grey Gull

Grey Gull, 45–48 cm, breeds in the Atacama Desert of Chile, one of the driest places on earth, nesting far from the coast. Uniform grey body, white head in breeding plumage. Each night adults fly 70–100 km to Humboldt Current coast to feed on fish and invertebrates before returning to chicks.

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