Whether you’re scanning the shorelines of Hill Head or watching the birds at Bembridge Harbour, knowing your herring gull from your lesser black-backed gull adds a whole new layer to coastal birdwatching. So next time you’re out, take a moment to look closely – you’ll soon be able to tell the difference between black-headed, Med gulls, herring, great black-backed, lesser black-backed and common gulls.
With a mix of gull species regularly seen along the Solent coast, it can feel like a feathery puzzle. But with a few tips and a bit of practice, you’ll be spotting the differences like a pro.
Quick tips for gull ID
| Leg colour | Surprisingly helpful: pink (herring, great black-backed), yellow (lesser black-backed, common), red (med, black-headed) |
| Bill shape and colour | Red bills for black-headed and Med gulls, yellow for the others. Also look for red spots (herring, lesser, great black-backed), or plain bills (common) |
| Head markings | Both black-headed and Med gulls change their head gear with the seasons: dark heads in summer; whiter heads in winter |
| Size and posture | Great black-backed gulls tower over the rest, while black-headed and Med gulls are daintier |
| Wing tips | Wing tips are a great clue when it comes to telling apart black-headed and Med gulls - black-headed gulls have black wing tips, while Meds stick to white |
| Don’t be fooled by juveniles | Young gulls can look like a completely different species and are often mottled brown with dark bills and legs. |
Here’s our guide to some of the most commonly seen gulls on the Solent coast:
Black headed gulls
| Size | The smallest of the UK's regularly breeding gulls |
| Conservation status | Amber listed |
| Abundance | Very common – especially in winter flocks and urban areas |
| Call | Loud and varied – often a harsh “kehaar” or “kee-ow”, sometimes sounding like laughter |
| Features | Chocolate-brown head in summer (not black), white head with a dark ear spot in winter, red bill and legs, pale grey wings with black tips. |
| Vibe | Sociable and noisy - often seen in large groups |
Mediterranean gull
| Size | Similar to black-headed gull |
| Conservation status | Amber listed |
| Abundance | Increasing – once rare, now regularly seen in winter and breeding in growing numbers |
| Call | A distinctive mewing call – very different from the black-headed gull’s laughing call |
| Features | Pure black hood in summer, white head with a smudgy dark sport behind the eye in winter, bright red bills and legs, clean white wings with no black tips. |
| Vibe | Sleek and elegant – often found in small numbers among black-headed gulls |
Herring gull
| Size | Large at 53-67cm long, similar in size to the lesser black-backed gull |
| Conservation status | Red listed |
| Abundance | Still widespread but declining – especially in natural nesting sites |
| Call | The classic seaside “yodelling” cry – loud and unmistakable |
| Features | Pale grey back and wings, pink legs, yellow bill with red spot, loud familiar call |
| Vibe | The classic “seagull” of chips-on-the-beach fame – but also a smart and adaptable bird |
Great black-backed gull
| Size | Huge – the largest gull in the world with a wingspan of up to 1.6m |
| Conservation status | Red listed |
| Abundance | Widespread but not numerous – usually seen singly or in pairs |
| Call | Deep and raucous – a “kak-kak-kak” or “ha-ha-ha” sound, sometimes a high-pitched “keee-yah” |
| Features | Powerful build with a thick yellow bill (red spot on lower mandible), black upper wings and back, pink legs |
| Vibe | Dominant and bold – seen around harbours and coastlines |
Lesser black-backed gull
| Size | Slightly smaller than herring gull at 52-67cm long |
| Conservation status | Amber listed |
| Abundance | Fairly common – especially in urban areas and mixed flocks |
| Call | A “laughing” cry – similar to herring gull but with a deeper pitch |
| Features | Dark grey (not black) back and wings, yellow legs, yellow bill with red spot |
| Vibe | Sleeker than its great cousin – often seen in mixed flocks with herring gulls |
Common gull
| Size | Between black-headed and herring gull |
| Conservation status | Red listed |
| Abundance | Less common than its name suggests – seen more in winter, especially inland |
| Call | A high-pitched “kyow” or “kee-aw” – sometimes mewing, giving rise to the name “mew gull” |
| Features | Yellow bill with no red spot, greenish-yellow legs, grey wings with black wingtips and white spots, keeps its white head in summer |
| Vibe | Neat and understated – often seen inland as well as on the coast |
