| European Herring Gull | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Charadriiformes |
| Family: | Laridae |
| Genus: | Larus |
| Species: | Larus argentatus |
European Herring Gulls, or Larus argentatus, are large European gulls that feed on scraps and are often seen around fishing jetties. They also search rubbish dumps for food, as they have moved inland.
Subspecies[]
- L. a. argentatus, found in Scandinavia and the Baltic sea;
- L. a. argenteus, found in Iceland and western Europe, slightly smaller, with paler upperparts, and more black and less white on the wingtips.
The American Herring Gull (Larus smithsonianus) and the Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis), once treated as subspecies of the European Herring Gull, are now considered separate species by most authorities.
Appearance[]
Herring Gulls are large, sturdy, 55-67 cm (21-26") long gulls with 130-160 cm (51-61") wingspans. They have white heads, tails and underparts, and are grey on the back and wings. They have black wingtips with small white spots, white trailing wing-edges, and yellow bills with a red spot. A noticeable feature is their pinkish legs. Young birds are mainly brown with some barring on their bills and wings. They get their adult plumage on their fourth year.
Voice[]
Herring Gulls have a vast range of barking, mewing, and shrieking calls. The most common call is a long, loud, raucous "kyee-kau-kau-kau".
Habits[]
They are very noisy and a common sight at coastal towns, they also follow boats, and can become very tame. Herring Gulls are mostly resident, with northern birds wintering slightly further south. They are gregarious, nesting in colonies and roosting and feeding in huge flocks in winter. They can display aggressiveness towards both each other and other species.
Feeding[]
Herring Gulls are versatile, omnivorous birds with an extremely varied diet. They mainly eat fish, crustaceans, worms, molluscs and carrion. They often drop shellfish onto rocks in order to crack their shells open. They also feed on small mammals, birds, and eggs. They frequently swallow their prey whole. Opportunistic, they also feed on rubbish dumps and are often seen swooping down out of the sky and eating leftovers on picnic tables.
Nesting[]
Herring Gulls nest in colonies in coastal areas, and occasionally more inland. Like all gulls, they are monogamous and often pair for life. They breed once a year, from April to August. Their nests are made of vegetation and the clutch is 2 to 3 pale blue or brown eggs, which are incubated by both sexes for 28-30 days. The chicks are well camouflaged, with brown spots on their downy white plumage. Fledging is 35-40 after hatching. Pairs are very aggressive at breeding time, even to their fledglings when they hatch.
Distribution and habitat[]
Herring Gulls are found near shores around nearly all of northern Europe. They are also found in the Atlantic and north of Iceland. They are common in seaside towns, and have also become quite common inland, especially near lakes and rivers.
Gallery[]
