Larus argentatus Pontoppidan, 1763

Scientific Name

The scientific name of the European herring gull is Larus argentatus Pontoppidan, 1763.

Body Length and Weight

Adult male European herring gulls measure 60–67 cm (24–26 in) in length and weigh 1,050–1,525 g (2.315–3.362 lb), while adult females measure 55–62 cm (22–24 in) in length and weigh 710–1,100 g (1.57–2.43 lb).

Wingspan and Standard Measurements

Their total wingspan ranges from 125 to 155 cm (49 to 61 in). Standard measurements for the species are as follows: the wing chord measures 38 to 48 cm (15 to 19 in), the bill measures 4.4 to 6.5 cm (1.7 to 2.6 in), and the tarsus measures 5.3 to 7.5 cm (2.1 to 3.0 in).

Breeding Adult Plumage

Adults in breeding plumage have a light grey back and upper wings, with white on the head and underparts. Wingtips are black with white spots called "mirrors".

Adult Soft Parts

The bill is yellow with a red spot, and a ring of bare yellow skin surrounds the pale eye. Legs are normally pink at all ages, but may be yellowish, especially among the Baltic population that was previously considered a separate subspecies, L. a. omissus.

Non-Breeding Adult Plumage

Non-breeding adults have brown streaks across their heads and necks. Male and female European herring gulls have identical plumage at all life stages, though adult males are typically larger.

First-Winter Plumage

Juvenile and first-winter European herring gulls are mostly brown with darker streaks, and have dark bills and eyes.

Second-Winter Plumage

Second-winter birds have whiter heads and underparts with less streaking, and a grey back.

Third-Winter Plumage and Maturity

Third-winter individuals resemble adults, but still retain some immature features, such as brown feathers in the wings and dark markings on the bill. This species reaches adult plumage and sexual maturity at an average age of four years.

Breeding Range

Herring gulls breed across most of north-western Europe, including Iceland, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and France.

Conservation Status

Since 2009, herring gulls in the United Kingdom have been included on the red list of birds of conservation concern.

Distribution and Vagrancy

They have been recorded along all of Europe's coasts, including the Mediterranean, and are occasionally found inland. Vagrants have been observed in Israel, Cyprus, and Turkey.

Migration Patterns

Most herring gulls in France are resident, while northern populations migrate south for winter, typically to the coasts of north-western Europe.

Initial Pair Bond Behavior

When forming a pair bond, the female approaches the male on his territory with a hunched, submissive posture, while making begging calls similar to the calls young gulls produce. If the male does not attack or drive her away, he responds by holding an upright posture and giving a mewing call.

Courtship Rituals

This is followed by a period of synchronized head-tossing, after which the male regurgitates food for his potential mate. If the female accepts the food, copulation occurs next.

Nest Site and Monogamy

Both members of the pair choose a nesting site, which they return to in future breeding years. European herring gulls are almost always sexually monogamous, and may stay paired for life if the pair successfully hatches their eggs.

Clutch Details

Clutches hold two to four eggs, most often three, laid on the ground or cliff ledges in breeding colonies. Both parents vigorously defend the nest and eggs.

Egg Characteristics and Incubation

The eggs are typically olive-brown with dark speckles or blotches. Both parents incubate the eggs for 28–30 days.

Hatchling Traits and Predators

Chicks hatch with open eyes, covered in fluffy down, and are able to walk within hours of hatching. Predators of breeding colonies include great black-backed gulls, harriers, corvids, and herons.

Chick Feeding Signaling

Juvenile gulls peck at the red spot on adult bills to signal hunger, and parents typically disgorge food for their young.

Fledging Timeline

Young European herring gulls can fly 35–40 days after hatching, and fledge at five to six weeks old.

Post-Fledging Feeding

Chicks are usually fed by their parents until they reach 11–12 weeks old, but feeding may continue for more than six months if young gulls keep begging. Before fledging, the male feeds the chick more often than the female; after fledging, the female feeds the chick more often.

Lifespan

Like most gulls, European herring gulls are long-lived, with a maximum recorded age of 49 years.

Adult Predators

Raptors (especially owls, peregrine falcons, and gyrfalcons) and seals (especially grey seals) occasionally prey on non-nesting adult European herring gulls.