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The wintering herring gulls in Estonia are some twenty thousand. Migrants are already arriving from the south and the winter flocks are breaking up. Nesting birds are about twice the winter number. In March the choosing of mates begins, nesting starts in April.

 

Let us have a look at the plumage of the herring gulls: an adult bird, or four years old, already has all the beautiful characteristics of the species; the plumage of a first winter young bird is mottled brown all over, in the second winter the pale grey "overcoat“  has mottled patches. The flight image of herring gulls is calm, with continuous wing beats; circling above the sea they use rising air flows. They are good swimmers and dive if needed. On the ground they move easily, and can run when necessary: that can be seen in cities.

 Ships are only escorted by mew gulls, very similar to the herring gulls but smaller and with beaks lacking the red patch.