Can You Identify the Gulls of the Aura River Valley?

Gulls are a familiar sight to anyone spending time near the Aura River. They can be seen everywhere, from Turku’s market square to the fields of the river valley. Many people recognize a gull as a seabird, but identifying specific species can be more challenging. In Finland, six different gull species can be found, with the most common being the common gull. The other species are the little gull, black-headed gull, herring gull, lesser black-backed gull, and great black-backed gull. Key identification features include the color of the legs, head, and back, as well as the shape of the beak and wings.

Small Gulls: The little gull and the black-headed gull both have dark hoods on their heads. As its name suggests, the little gull is small, and the underside of its wings is darker than that of the black-headed gull. The black-headed gull is more commonly seen in the Aura River Valley.

Little gull

Black-headed gull

Medium-Sized Gulls: The common gull and the herring gull both have grey backs, but the common gull has a whiter underside on its wings, with black only at the tips. The herring gull is larger and more robust, with a strong beak that features a red spot.

Common gull

Herring gull

Large Gulls: The lesser black-backed gull and the great black-backed gull are the largest gull species in Finland. Both have black backs, but the lesser black-backed gull has yellow legs, while the great black-backed gull has pale pinkish legs. The great black-backed gull is the largest gull species in Finland, with a wingspan of 140–170 cm.