Can you tell the age of a gull by the color of its beak?

The color of a gull's beak can be an indicator of its age, but it is not a definitive method of determining age. The beak of a gull is made of keratin, the same material as human hair and nails, and it continuously grows throughout the bird's life. As the gull ages, its beak changes color due to exposure to sunlight, diet, and other environmental factors.

In general, younger gulls have dark-colored beaks that lighten as they age. For example, juvenile herring gulls have black beaks with a pinkish tinge, while adult herring gulls have yellow beaks with a red spot near the tip. However, there can be variations in beak color among individuals and between species, so it is not always a reliable indicator of age.

Other factors that can be used to determine the age of a gull include plumage coloration, eye color, and physical characteristics such as the size of the bird or the shape of its tail feathers.