Yellow-footed Gull Photo Gallery
Adult
A large gull with a heavy, bulbous-tipped bill. Adult has a white head, neck, and underparts; dark-gray upperparts; black-and-white wingtips; a yellow bill with a red spot; and bright yellow legs.
© Tanner Martin / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, August 26, 2020Second year
Individuals reach adult plumage after three years. Second-year birds are similar to adults, but have a black mark at the tip of the bill. During the winter months they have some light streaking on the head.
© Ian Davies / Macaulay LibraryBaja California Sur, December 26, 2020Breeding adult
A large, long-necked gull with a heavy, bulbous-tipped bill. Breeds only in Mexico’s Gulf of California. Adult has dark-gray upperparts, a clean white head and underparts, and a yellow bill with red mark.
© Andrew Spencer / Macaulay LibraryBaja California, March 12, 2021Not all videos have soundSecond year
Second-year birds have dark gray upperparts like adults, but with some brown feathers mixed in. During the winter, second-year birds have some streaking on the head and neck, while adults have a white head and neck year-round.
© Ian Davies / Macaulay LibraryBaja California Sur, December 26, 2020First year
A large gull with a long neck and a thick bill with a bulbous tip.
© David Vander Pluym / Macaulay LibrarySonora, October 28, 2018Second year
Second-year birds are similar to adults, but show some brown in the gray upperparts and have a black tip to the bill. This species forages on beaches, in intertidal areas, in harbors, and at sea, feeding on fish, marine invertebrates and more.
© Andrew Spencer / Macaulay LibraryBaja California, March 12, 2021Not all videos have soundFirst year
Forages in intertidal areas, on beaches, in harbors, and at sea.
© Ryan O'Donnell / Macaulay LibraryBaja California, November 24, 2016First year
First-year birds have mostly white underparts, with some streaking on the side of the breast.
© Ian Davies / Macaulay LibraryBaja California Sur, December 26, 2020First year
First-year plumage is variable, but note the heavy, mostly black bill; dark gray mask around the eye; black wingtips; mostly white underparts; and pink legs.
© Ian Davies / Macaulay LibraryBaja California Sur, December 26, 2020Adult
In flight, adult shows a white tail, white trailing edge to the inner wing, mostly black wingtips, and a white spot on the tip of the outermost primary.
© Ian Davies / Macaulay LibraryBaja California Sur, December 26, 2020First year
In flight, the white rump of first-year birds contrasts with a black tail.
© Ian Davies / Macaulay LibraryBaja California Sur, December 26, 2020Species in This Family
Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers(Order: Charadriiformes, Family: Laridae)
More to Read
Don't miss a thing! Join our email list
The Cornell Lab will send you updates about birds,
birding, and opportunities to help bird conservation.