Despite Leicestershire and Rutland being a long way from the sea, gulls are a common sight. Most of these birds will have never seen the sea and are fully adapted to life inland. Although many gull species have been recorded here, 99% of sightings will be the species featured below and the great majority one of the top two. Gulls nearly always return to water to roost communally overnight but during the day they can be seen feeding on fields and grassland, such as parks and playing fields, as well as around lakes, reservoirs and rivers. The gulls featured below are in order of how common they are in our area. The images and descriptions are of adult birds. Juveniles have brown streaked plumage and can be challenging to identify.
Visit the NatureSpot gull gallery to see all our recorded gulls. Click on any header below to visit the NatureSpot page for that species to find out more.
Black-headed Gull
The commonest and smallest gull in our area. The black head (which is actually dark brown) only appears in the summer breeding season. In winter only a dark smudge behind the eye is visible.
ID: Small (compared to other gulls). Reddish bill and legs. Black head in summer. Spot behind the eye in winter.
Lesser Black-backed Gull
The second commonest gull in our area. Larger than the Black-headed Gull and with a dark grey back.
ID: Dark grey back and wings. Yellow bill and legs in adults.
Common Gull
Despite the name, this isn't a common bird inland. Slightly larger than than the Black-headed Gull but much smaller than the Herring Gull which it resembles.
ID: Pale grey back and wings. Green-yellow legs. Green-yellow beak with black spot. Dark speckling on the back of the head.
Herring Gull
This is the iconic 'seagull' of our coasts but much less common inland. It is a large and noisy gull, with a call similar to the Lesser Black-backed Gull.
ID: Large. Light grey back and wings. Pink legs. Yellow bill with a red spot.
Great Black-backed Gull
A giant of a bird! Much larger than any other gull and with a black back and wings. It will steal food from other gulls and predate young birds.
ID: Huge! Black back and wings. Pink legs. Yellow bill with red spot.
