Which description matches the herring gull?

• A. Very large, black back, pink legs
• B. Dark eye stripe, dives for fish
• C. Haunting wail, tremolo, yodel
• D. Large gull, pink legs, yellow bill with red spot

Answer: (D)

Understanding gull identification relies on a few clear field marks: size, leg color, and bill markings. The herring gull is a large gull with pink legs and a yellow bill that has a red spot on the lower mandible. That exact combination—the big size, pink legs, and a yellow bill with a red spot—fits the description best.

The other options point to different birds or features: one describes a bird with a black back, which would indicate a different large gull; another mentions a dark eye stripe and diving for fish, which isn’t a defining feature of the herring gull; and the vocal description matches loon calls, not gulls.