Yellow-legged Gull

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Yellow-legged Gull in the UK

A scarce visitor and very rare breeder. It was treated as a race of Herring Gull until 2005. About 840 birds winter in the UK, and numbers are highest between mid-July and the end of August, when juveniles and moulting adults arrive from the Continent. The breeding population was put at two pairs for 2013 to 2017. The wintering trend is stable. It is Amber-listed.

Where and when to see a Yellow-legged Gull

Southern, central and eastern England, with far fewer in the north and west. Mid-July to October is the peak. The Thames Estuary, including RSPB Rainham Marshes, is a well-known area, as is Dungeness in Kent. Inland, check large reservoirs, gravel pits, landfill sites and outdoor pig fields, and go through evening gull roosts on reservoirs. Look among resting Lesser Black-backed and Herring Gulls for a bird with a mid-grey back.

Habitat, diet and field notes

Habitat: South coast, reservoirs.
Diet: Omnivore.
Field note: Darker mantle, yellow legs.

How to identify a Yellow-legged Gull

Slightly larger than a Herring Gull, with a square head, heavy bill and long wings. The adult's back is a shade of grey between Herring and Lesser Black-backed. Legs are bright yellow, the eye-ring is red and the red bill spot is large. The wing tip shows more black and smaller white spots than Herring. In autumn the head stays white while Herring Gulls become streaked. Juveniles have a whitish head with a dark eye mask, dark tertials, and a white rump and tail base setting off a neat black tail band.

Call and song

Deeper and more nasal than a Herring Gull, closer to Lesser Black-backed. The long call is a low, laughing series. Voice is a useful extra clue but not enough on its own. Heard something you cannot place? Bird Hear identifies UK birds from a 10 second recording, free in your browser.

Confusion species

• European Herring Gull: Herring Gull has a paler silver-grey back, pink legs and, from autumn, a heavily streaked head.
• Lesser Black-backed Gull: Lesser Black-backed is darker slate-grey above with a slimmer build and thinner bill, and has a streaked head in winter.
• Caspian Gull: Caspian Gull has a small pear-shaped head, a long thin bill, a small dark eye and long, pale, often pinkish legs.

Related guide British seabirds.

Conservation status and Birdedex points

In the Birdedex the Yellow-legged Gull is a Rare tier bird, worth +8 points when you log one. It is not on the Red or Amber lists in Birds of Conservation Concern 5.

Recent UK sightings

Similar birds

• Ring-billed GullRare · Reservoirs
• Common GullCommon · Reservoirs
• Caspian GullRare · Reservoirs
• Iceland Gull (kumlieni)Rare · Coast (winter)
• European Herring GullCommon · Coast
• Lesser Black-backed GullCommon · Coast

Yellow-legged Gull: quick answers

Where can I see a Yellow-legged Gull in the UK?

The lower Thames, the south and east coasts of England and big Midland and southern reservoirs are the regular areas. It occupies only about 14 per cent of UK squares in winter, so in Scotland, Wales and northern England it is a notable find.

When is the best time to see Yellow-legged Gull?

Late July and August. Fresh juveniles arrive then and are easier to pick out than at any other time, because they are already moulting while young Herring Gulls are still in fresh brown plumage. Adults stand out best from September, once Herring Gulls have streaked heads.

What is the difference between Yellow-legged Gull and Herring Gull?

On adults, check three things: leg colour (yellow, not pink), back colour (darker grey) and head (white in autumn and winter, not streaked). Beware Herring Gulls with yellowish legs. Back shade and wing-tip pattern should match too.

Kit that helps

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