European Herring Gull
Larus argentatus
Silhouette: Sharon Wegner-Larsen · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderCharadriiformes (Shorebirds and Allies)
- FamilyLaridae (Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers)
- GenusLarus (Large White-headed Gulls)
- SpeciesLarus argentatus (European Herring Gull)
About the European Herring Gull
The European herring gull or simply herring gull (Larus argentatus) is a large gull, up to 66 cm (26 in) long. It breeds throughout the northern and western coasts of Europe. Some European herring gulls, especially those resident in colder areas, migrate farther south in winter, but many are permanent residents, such as in Ireland, Britain, Iceland, or on the North Sea shores. They have a varied diet, including fish, crustaceans, as well as some plants, and are also scavengers, consuming carrion and food left by or stolen from humans.
The herring gull's scientific name is from Latin. Larus appears to have referred to a gull or other large seabird and argentatus means decorated with silver. This species group has a ring distribution around the Northern Hemisphere. Most adjacent populations interbreed; however, adjacent terminal populations do not.
The Association of European Rarities Committees recognises six species: European herring gull, L. argentatus American herring gull, L. smithsonianus Caspian gull, L. cachinnans Yellow-legged gull, L. michahellis Vega gull, L. vegae
Armenian gull, L. armenicus L. a. argentatus – Pontoppidan, 1763, the nominate... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of European Herring Gull in Wadden Sea National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Wadden Sea National Park
Common Gull
Larus canus
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Larus fuscus
Great Black-backed Gull
Larus marinus
Caspian Gull
Larus cachinnans
Yellow-legged Gull
Larus michahellis
Glaucous Gull
Larus hyperboreus
Iceland Gull
Larus glaucoides
Ring-billed Gull
Larus delawarensis
Black-headed Gull
Chroicocephalus ridibundus
Common Tern
Sterna hirundo
Sandwich Tern
Thalasseus sandvicensis
Black-legged Kittiwake
Rissa tridactyla
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Snowdonia National Park | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | |
| 2 | Wadden Sea National Park | 🇩🇪 Germany | |
| 3 | Gauja National Park | 🇱🇻 Latvia | |
| 4 | Vatnajokull National Park | 🇮🇸 Iceland | |
| 5 | Cairngorms National Park | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | |
| 6 | Thingvellir National Park | 🇮🇸 Iceland | |
| 7 | Biebrza National Park | 🇵🇱 Poland | |
| 8 | Kiskunság National Park | 🇭🇺 Hungary | |
| 9 | Sierra de Guadarrama National Park | 🇪🇸 Spain | |
| 10 | Hortobágy National Park | 🇭🇺 Hungary | |
| 11 | Białowieża National Park | 🇵🇱 Poland | |
| 12 | Bavarian Forest National Park | 🇩🇪 Germany | |
| 13 | Fertő-Hanság National Park | 🇭🇺 Hungary |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a European Herring Gull in Wadden Sea National Park?
About 50% of wildlife watchers report a European Herring Gull sighting in Wadden Sea National Park, based on 12,438 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see European Herring Gull in Wadden Sea National Park?
October has the highest sighting rate for European Herring Gull in Wadden Sea National Park in our monthly data.