Short-billed Gull © Jesse Pline / Macaulay Library
This PDF Identification Guide Is Yours to Download
From hooded to white-headed, medium to large—discover the diversity of North American gulls!
This visual guide organizes 24 gull species regularly found in the United States and Canada into five main groups based on size, back color, and head pattern—making it easier to compare look-alike species side by side.
These five ID groups include:
- Large, white-headed, light-backed gulls
- Medium, white-headed, light-backed gulls
- Large, white-headed, dark-backed gulls
- Hooded gulls
- Other distinctive gulls
By grouping similar species together, this cheat sheet helps you spot key ID features—like size, plumage, and head markings—at a glance, making tough gull IDs more manageable in the field or at home.
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Be a Better Birder: Gull Identification
Go further in the rewarding realm of gull identification in this exciting self-paced course. You'll learn to confidently ID 24 gull species appearing in the U.S. and Canada with ID keys and practice exercises you can return to any time you like!