HERRING GULL Larus argentatus

Probably the most abundant primarily coastal gull, certainly in Britain, but a taxonomic nightmare. Yellow-legged and Caspian Gulls were split off long ago along with Armenian, but only recently has American Herring Gull been afforded specific status. At times the BOU and AOU did not always follow the taxonomist's suggestions, but we in England can at last tick four species in category A.

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