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Painted

Published

1932

Volume

1

Plate

51

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Herring Gull

Larus argentatus

DESCRIPTION

In warm March days some Gulls of a flock suddenly will develop a severe attack of Spring fever and with bill pointed upward, issue a hoarse challenge. The call is usually ignored but sometimes an antagonist steps forward and fences with a few bill-crossings and the battle is over.

On the breeding grounds individuals are more agressive and stage a more real fight. A murderous mania seizes a few birds and they kill their own or other young by blows at the base of the skull.

Occasionally nests are built in trees but normally on the ground. When these areas are protected, they become quite tame and permit visitors to walk within a few feet before leaving the nests. On other islands an intruder is greeted with combined protests which sound like the roar of a large shell thru the air. They seem immune to cold and I have seen thousands just beyond the surf-break calmly resting with the temperature below zero and a forty-mile off-shore gale blowing.

HERRING GULLS are a familiar sight in all our eastern coast ports during the Winter. They wing within a few feet of ferryboats or other craft and evolutions of a flock gathering refuse astern of a vessel is an interesting study in aviation.

I seldom saw any very far at sea and in heavy gales they spend nights in sheltered bays and estuaries altho the open ocean is the customary sleeping apartment.

They are hardy, strong and capable. This trio of attainments, combined with man's protection, has greatly increased their numbers.

BREEDING

RANGE

Central and Eastern North America south in Winter to Gulf of Mexico. Less common on Pacific from British Columbia to Lower California.

herring-gull
kittiwake-pacific-kittiwake
Kittiwake, Pacific Kittiwake
040-040a
western-grebe
Western Grebe
1
pacific-loon
Pacific Loon
10
redthroat-loon
Redthroat Loon
11
tufted-puffin
Tufted Puffin
12
puffin-largebill-puffin
Puffin, Largebill Puffin
13-13a
horned-puffin
Horned Puffin
14
rhinoceros-auklet
Rhinoceros Auklet
15
cassin-auklet
Cassin Auklet
16
paroquet-auklet
Paroquet Auklet
17
crested-auklet
Crested Auklet
18
whiskered-auklet
Whiskered Auklet
19
holboell-grebe
Holboell Grebe
2
least-auklet
Least Auklet
20
ancient-murrelet
Ancient Murrelet
21
marble-murrelet
Marble Murrelet
23
kittlitz-murrelet
Kittlitz Murrelet
24
xantus-murrelet
Xantus Murrelet
25
craveri-murrelet
Craveri Murrelet
26
black-guillemot
Black Guillemot
27
mandt-guillemot
Mandt Guillemot
28
pigeon-guillemot
Pigeon Guillemot
29
horned-grebe
Horned Grebe
3
murre-california-murre
Murre, California Murre
30-30a
brunnich-murre-pallas-murre
Brunnich Murre, Pallas Murre
31-31a
razorbill-auk
Razorbill Auk
32
dovekie
Dovekie
34
skua
Skua
35
pomarine-jaeger
Pomarine Jaeger
36
parasitic-jaeger
Parasitic Jaeger
37
longtail-jaeger
Longtail Jaeger
38
ivory-gull
Ivory Gull
39
eared-grebe
Eared Grebe
4
redleg-kittiwake
Redleg Kittiwake
41
glaucous-gull
Glaucous Gull
42
iceland-gull
Iceland Gull
43
glaucouswing-gull
Glaucouswing Gull
44
kumlien-gull
Kumlien Gull
45
nelson-gull
Nelson Gull
46
great-blackback-gull
Great Blackback Gull
47
slatyback-gull
Slatyback Gull
48
western-gull
Western Gull
49
mexican-grebe
Mexican Grebe
5
herring-gull
Herring Gull
51
california-gull
California Gull
53
ringbill-gull
Ringbill Gull
54
shortbill-gull
Shortbill Gull
55
heermann-gull
Heermann Gull
57
laughing-gull
Laughing Gull
58
franklin-gull
Franklin Gull
59
piedbill-grebe
Piedbill Grebe
6
bonaparte-gull
Bonaparte Gull
60
ross-gull
Ross Gull
61
sabine-gull
Sabine Gull
62
loon
Loon
7
yellowbill-loon
Yellowbill Loon
8
blackthroat-loon
Blackthroat Loon
9