Herring Gull

Larus argentatus

Introduction

A quintessential sound of the seaside, the beautiful pearly-grey backed and pink-legged Herring Gull is perhaps one of our most familiar.

The Herring Gull feeds mainly on marine vertebrates and invertebrates, with Green Shore Crab being a particular favourite. It is an opportunist, however, and will eat a wide variety of food and can be found feeding in large congregations at refuse dumps, taking advantage of the food we throw away.

Once confined to the coast as a breeding bird, small numbers of Herring Gulls can now be found breeding far inland.

Key Stats

Common

970.6g

3-3

35%

BTO Records

1.9m records

Publications

Population and distribution stats for:

Population Change

40% increase 1995–2022

130k Pairs

36% expansion

No data

740k

0.6% expansion

Identification

Curated resources to aid in the identification of Herring Gull

ID Videos

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This section features BTO training videos headlining this species, or featuring it as a potential confusion species.

Adult black-backed gulls

Common Gull & Herring Gull

Songs and Calls

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Listen to example recordings of the main vocalisations of Herring Gull, provided by xeno-canto contributors.

Song:

Call:

Status and Trends

Population size, trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO and partnership surveys and atlasses with data collected by BTO volunteers.

Conservation Status

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This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

UK Birds of Conservation Concern

Red listed

Species of European Conservation Concern

Least Concern

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global)

Least Concern

Schedule 1 Licence required (to disturb)*

Birds Directive Annex 1

Listed on the Annexes of*

WBD(II*), NERC (41)

* A guide only. Check details with the original legislation, especially those marked with an asterisk. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Size

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UK (breeding)

130 Pairs (1998-02)

Source

UK (winter)

740 thousand (2003-06)

Source

BOU Category

Source

First Record*

Recorded in Anglo-Saxon times

* First documented occurrence. Most species undoubtedly occurred before this. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Change

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UK breeding population

40% (1995–2022)

The Herring Gull has declined considerably since the 1969–70 Census, with the coastal population falling by more than 50% by the time of Seabird 2000 (1998–2002). Annual monitoring suggests that further declines have occurred since Seabird 2000 and the results from the recent Seabirds Count (2015–21) are expected to confirm the severity of this decline in coastal breeding Herring Gulls (JNCC 2022). Small numbers breed inland, usually on rooftops, where they are difficult to survey; hence the status of the overall UK population is less clear. It is believed that these populations are increasing but still make up only a relatively small proportion of the UK population and that the increases in urban areas do not compensate for the declines elsewhere, but further assessment and future monitoring of urban populations is needed.

Distribution

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Herring Gulls are widely distributed throughout lowland areas of Britain, with the highest concentrations near the coast. In Ireland, the distribution is more coastal.. In the breeding season the distribution is predominantly coastal, but the species readiness to nest on buildings has allowed it to colonise urban areas.

Occupied 10-km squares in UK

These figures come from Bird Atlas 2007 and indicate how widespread a species is.

No. occupied in breeding season

1242

% occupied in breeding season

41%

No. occupied in winter

2501

% occupied in winter

83%

Bird Atlas distribution maps show where bird species breed or winter in Britain and Ireland. For breeding maps, larger dots indicate higher certainty the species bred in that area.

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

To view and download up-to-date distribution information aggregated from across BTO and partnership surveys and schemes, see our data holdings on the NBN Atlas.

European Distribution Map

European Breeding Bird Atlas 2

Distribution Change

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Herring Gull breeding populations have declined significantly in size but few colonies have been completely lost. The breeding distribution change map implies that the greatest losses have been in coastal areas of western Ireland and western Scotland. Gains shown in urban areas are indicative of the divergence in trends between increasing urban and declining rural breeding populations.

Change in occupied 10-km squares in the UK

These figures come from Bird Atlas 2007-11 and indicate by how much occupied areas have expanded or contracted over recent decades.

% change in range in breeding season (1968–72 to 2008–11)

36 %

% change in range in winter (1981–84 to 2007–11)

0.6 %

Bird Atlas distribution change maps show how bird distributions have changed through time. Coloured upward-pointing triangles show places apparently colonised over the period; grey downward-pointing triangles show places apparently vacated. Shading show places occupied.

Winter Distribution change for Herring Gull

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

Breeding Distribution change for Herring Gull

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

Seasonality

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Herring Gulls are recorded throughout the year.

Weekly pattern of occurrence

The graph shows when the species is present in the UK, with taller bars indicating a higher likelihood of encountering the species in appropriate regions and habitats.

Phenology graph — Weekly occurrence patterns (shaded cells and reporting rates (vertical bars) based on BirdTrack data. Reporting rates give the likelihood of encountering the species each week.

Habitats

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Breeding season habitats

Most frequent in

Open Shore

Relative frequency by habitat

The graph shows the habitats occupied in the breeding season, with the most utilised habitats shown at the top. Bars of similar size indicate the species is equally likely to be recorded in those habitats.

Movement

Information about Herring Gull movements and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

Britain & Ireland movement

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View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report

European movements

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EuroBirdPortal uses birdwatcher's records, such as those logged in BirdTrack to map the flows of birds as they arrive and depart Europe. See maps for this species here.

The Eurasian-African Migration Atlas shows movements of individual birds ringed or recovered in Europe. See maps for this species here.

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information for Herring Gull, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

Productivity and Nesting

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Nesting timing

Typical (exceptional) number of broods

Source

Egg measurements

Typical length x width

70x49 mm

Mass (% shell)

92g (7%)

Source

Clutch Size

Typical number

3-3 eggs

Observed minimum and maximum

2-4 eggs

Source

Incubation

Incubation by

Female (occ. Male)

Typical duration

30-28 days

Source

Fledging

Type of chick

Semi-precocial, downy

Typical duration

40-35 days

Source

Survival and Longevity

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Survival is shown as the proportion of birds surviving from one year to the next and is derived from bird ringing data. It can also be used to estimate how long birds typically live.

lifespan

Typical life expectancy of bird reaching breeding age

12 years with breeding typically at 4 years

Survival of adults

All adults

0.88±0.013

Females

0.989±0.016

Males

0.858±0.02

Source

Survival of juveniles

All juveniles

0.63 (to age 4)

Source

Biometrics

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Wing length and body weights are from live birds (source).

Wing length

Average ±1 std deviation; range and sample size in brackets.

Juvenile

405.7±20.1 mm

(375-440 mm, N=582)

All adults

414.5±19.7 mm

(385-448 mm, N=1125)

Body weight

Average ±1 std deviation; range and sample size in brackets.

Juvenile

405.7±20.1 mm

(375-440 mm, N=582)

All adults

414.5±19.7 mm

(385-448 mm, N=1125)

Ring Size

Classification, names and codes

Taxonomy, names and species codes for Herring Gull

Classification and Codes

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Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Laridae
Scientific name: Larus argentatus
Authority: Pontoppidan, 1763

BTO 2-letter code: HG
BTO 5-letter code: HERGU
Euring code number: 5921

Alternate species names

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Catalan: gavià argentat de potes rosa
Czech: racek stríbritý
Danish: Sølvmåge
Dutch: Zilvermeeuw
Estonian: hõbekajakas
Finnish: harmaalokki
French: Goéland argenté
Gaelic: Faoileag-an-sgadain

German: Silbermöwe
Hungarian: ezüstsirály
Icelandic: Silfurmáfur
Irish: Faoileán Scadán
Italian: Gabbiano reale nordico
Latvian: sudrabkaija
Lithuanian: sidabrinis kiras
Norwegian: Gråmåke

Polish: mewa srebrzysta
Portuguese: gaivota-argêntea
Slovak: cajka striebristá
Slovenian: srebrni galeb
Spanish: Gaviota argéntea europea
Swedish: gråtrut
Welsh: Gwylan Penwaig

Research

Interpretation and scientific publications about Herring Gull from BTO scientists.

Causes of Change and Solutions

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Causes of change

The main drivers of the population changes are unclear. However, botulism is believed to be one important factor behind the declines which occurred between 1969–70 and Seabird 2000 (Mitchell et al. 2004), at a time when other seabird species including Lesser Black-backed Gull were increasing. Recent declines particularly at rural and coastal colonies may be associated with the factors that have affected other gull species: reduced breeding success resulting from reduced feeding opportunties due to closure of landfill sites and a reduction in fisheries discards (Mitchell et al. 2004; Bicknell et al. 2013). Increases in urban areas are likely to be driven by the fact that they provide both increased foraging opportunties and safe nesting sites that are relatively predator free in comparison with natural sites (Raven & Coulson 1997).

Publications (7)

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The status of the UK’s breeding seabirds

Five seabird species are added to the Birds of Conservation Concern Red List in this addendum to the 2021 update, bringing the total number of Red-listed seabird species to 10, up from six since seabirds were last assessed. The Amber List of seabirds moves from 19 to 14 species, and the Green List increases from one to two species.

29.09.24

Papers

View on journal website

Seabird Population Trends and Causes of Change: 1986–2023

This report presents the latest seabird population trends in breeding abundance and productivity using data from the Seabird Monitoring Programme (SMP).The report documents changes in the abundance and productivity of breeding seabird species in Britain and Ireland from 1986 to 2023, and provides a detailed account of the 2021, 2022 and 2023 breeding seasons.This report includes both inland and coastal populations and trends from the Channel Islands, England, Isle of Man, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland, which are presented where sufficient data are available. The results from this report are used more broadly to assess the health of the wider environment, to inform policy and for conservation action.

21.11.24

Reports Research reports

Read the report View Online

Northern Ireland Seabird Report 2023

The report includes detailed information about the population trends and breeding success of seabirds in Northern Ireland, over the 2023 breeding season. Notably, Fulmar and Kittiwake populations are reported to be experiencing continued declines, while Guillemot, Common Gull and Herring Gull populations show increases at most breeding sites.

15.04.24

Reports Northern Ireland Seabird Report

Download PDF

Foraging habitat selection by breeding Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) from a declining coastal colony in the United Kingdom

New research from BTO has used GPS tracking to investigate the feeding preferences of breeding Herring Gulls at a declining colony, and found that these birds are more likely to be foraging on Mussels than pilfering your lunch.

25.08.21

Papers

Assessing habitat use of Herring Gulls in the Morecambe Bay SPA using GPS tracking devices

Number of coastal Herring Gull populations have reduced markedly in recent years. The breeding gull colony of the South Walney and Piel Channel Flats Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), within the Morecambe Bay and Duddon Estuary potential Special Protection Area (pSPA), is of national and intermational importance for its number of Herring Gull Larus argentatus and Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus.

05.02.18

Reports

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Urban Breeding Gull Surveys: A Survey Design Simulation

This report builds on Ross et al. (2016) using computer simulations to examine how survey coverage affects the precision of population estimates. This work will provide a first step towards improving the population estimates of urban gulls, assuming surveys go ahead in the future.

12.06.17

Reports

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The avoidance rates of collision between birds and offshore turbines

Report of work carried out by the British Trust for Ornithology in collaboration with the Environmental Research Institute on behalf of the Marine Scotland Science.Accurately estimating birds’ risk of collision with offshore wind turbines is a key part of the decision-making process for proposed renewable developments. However, the evidence base for quantifying the number of birds likely to avoid colliding with turbines is limited. Recent BTO-led work helping to fill this gap, improving the understanding of the impacts of offshore renewables on marine wildlife.

03.12.14

Reports Research reports

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More Evidence

More evidence from Conservation Evidence.com

Partners

Birdfacts is based on data collected by volunteers participating in surveys that are organised and funded by BTO, RSPB, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, JNCC and other partners.

BTO

Esmée Fairbairn Foundation

JNCC

RSPB

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