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Herring Gull

Larus argentatus

Not yet photographed by the community

Large silver-grey gull; familiar seaside scavenger.

Species Profile

Red List (breeding population declining); Amber List (wintering birds stable but overall UK population in long-term decline)

Lifespan: 25–30 years in the wild; oldest ringed bird recorded at over 34 years
Size & Weight: 55–67 cm, wingspan 130–160 cm; 910–1600 g
Habitat: Coastal areas including cliffs, beaches, estuaries, and increasingly urban environments such as rooftops and harbours.
UK Distribution: Found throughout the UK coastline and inland waterways; primarily a resident species with some winter immigration from continental Europe. Numbers increase significantly in winter.
Diet: Omnivorous and opportunistic; feeds on fish (especially sand eels, sprats, and cod), crustaceans, molluscs, insects, bird eggs, chicks, scraps, and household waste.
Prey: Fish (sand eels, sprats, cod), crustaceans, molluscs, bird eggs, chicks, and terrestrial invertebrates
Predators: Adults have few natural predators; eggs and chicks vulnerable to foxes, rats, corvids, and other large gulls. Great Black-backed Gulls occasionally prey on adults.
Mating Season: March to August; peak breeding April to July
Breeding: Clutch of 2–3 eggs (occasionally 1–4); incubation period 24–31 days; typically single brood per season. Chicks fledge at 6–7 weeks.
Behaviour: Highly social and gregarious, especially outside breeding season. Intelligent and adaptable, with strong site and mate fidelity. Known for aggressive, bold behaviour at colonies and when defending food sources; increasingly dominates urban areas.

Did You Know?

•Herring Gulls can drink both fresh and salt water; specialised glands filter out excess salt
•They are excellent fliers and can reach speeds of 40 mph; capable of sustained flight over open ocean
•Chicks remain in the nest territory and are fed by parents for several weeks after fledging
•Population decline linked to loss of traditional breeding habitat, food availability changes, and human persecution
•Urban populations now outnumber cliff-breeding birds in many UK regions, with rooftop nesting colonies increasingly common in coastal towns

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