Rather large, dark-backed gull along the Humboldt Current coast. Fairly common to locally common, favoring fishing harbors, beaches, and river mouths; ranges over inshore coastal waters and not found inland. All ages have a broad, clean-cut black tail band and a red-and-black bill tip. Breeding adult has clean white head and lacks the white spots in wingtip seen on the larger and bulkier Kelp Gull. Immature and nonbreeding plumages have a distinctive dark hood and yellowish legs.