American Herring Gulls in Northern Utah

American Herring Gull flying over Bear River MBR – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/6400, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

In my post yesterday on Ring-billed Gulls at Bear River MBR I mentioned that there were other species of gulls near the open water on the refuge on that cold January morning this year.

We do see American Herring Gulls in northern Utah during the winter and I was able to photograph this one as it circled over the water with the snow-covered Promontory Mountains and sky behind it. American Herring Gulls do not breed in northern Utah but they do migrate through this area and some of them will even over winter here.

Winter American Herring Gull in Utah – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/4000, ISO 500, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

American Herring Gulls are a bit larger than the California Gulls that are common here in Utah plus American Herring Gulls have light colored eyes where California Gulls typically have dark eyes. There are other differences of course but when I am scanning winter gulls I look for eye colors and size differences first then look for other differences after that. That is just me though and gulls are notoriously challenging to ID because they have so many plumage phases and that can be confusing.

I was happy to spot this American Herring Gull among the Ring-billed and California Gulls near the open water and resting on a shelf of ice. For some people a gull is a gull is a gull but I like to keep an eye out for the gulls that aren’t as common here in northern Utah.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my American Herring Gull photos plus facts and information about this species.