Herring Gull

Larus argentatusOrder: CHARADRIIFORMESFamily: Skuas, Gulls, Terns, Skimmers (Laridae)
Herring Gull Head Illustration_2

Head

  • Bill Shape: All-purpose
  • Eye color: Yellow iris
  • Head Pattern: Plain
  • Crown color: White
  • Forehead color: White
  • Nape Color: White
  • Throat color: White
  • Cere color:
Herring Gull Body Illustration_2

Body

  • Length Range: 55-66 cm (22-26 in)
  • Weight: 1224 g (43.2 oz)
  • Size: Size 4. Large (16 - 32 in)
  • Color: White, Gray
  • Underparts: White
  • Upperparts: Pale Gray
  • Back Pattern: Solid
  • Belly Pattern: Solid
  • Breast Pattern: Solid
Herring Gull Flight Illustration_2

Flight

  • Flight Pattern: Strong steady flight with deep wing beats.
  • Wingspan Range: 137-147 cm (54-58 in)
  • Wing Shape: Pointed-Wings
  • Tail Shape: Squared Tail
  • Tail Pattern: Solid
  • Upper Tail: White
  • Under Tail: White
  • Leg color: Yellow
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Family Gull (Laridae)_blue
Species Larus argentatus
Length22 - 26 Inches
Wingspan56 Inches

Herring Gull

Herring Gull: Large gull, pale gray back and wings with black tips, white head, neck breast. White tail and underparts. Bill is yellow with red spot near tip; legs are pink. Strong steady flight with deep wing beats. Soars on thermals and updrafts. Most widespread North American Gull.

● Song: "kuk-kuk-kuk", "yucca-yucca-yucca"

● Foraging & Feeding: Herring Gull: Feeds mostly on aquatic invertebrates and small fish; gleans the ground for insects and worms; scavenges dead fish and garbage at landfills; also eats bird eggs and young.

● Breeding & nesting: Herring Gull: Two to three gray, green, blue, or brown eggs with brown, lavender, and black streaks are laid in a shallow ground scrape lined with plants and sticks. Incubation ranges from 23 to 27 days and is carried out by both parents.

● Similar species: Herring Gull: California Gull is larger, has pink legs, yellow eyes, paler back, and thicker yellow bill. Ring-billed Gull is much smaller, has yellow legs, and a complete black ring on the bill.

Flight Pattern

Strong steady flight with deep wing beats.
Herring Gull Body Illustration_2
● Range & Habitat: Herring Gull: Breeds from Alaska east across northern Canada to Maritime Provinces, south to British Columbia, north-central Canada, and Great Lakes, and along Atlantic coast to North Carolina. Winters in all but its northernmost breeding areas; also along coasts, rivers, and lakes in the southeast and west from southern Alaska south to Baja California; also found in Eurasia. Nests on open beaches, islands, or shorelines; stays on large lakes, wetlands, rivers, landfills and public areas during migration and winter.
BreedingMonogamous, Colonial
PopulationAbundant
MigrationMigratory
Weight43.2 Ounces