The classic large gray-and-white gull of beaches and harbors. Pink legs, yellow bill with a red spot, gray wings tipped in black with white "mirrors." Among the most adaptable and abundant North American gulls.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
The American herring gull, also known as the Arctic herring gull or Smithsonian gull, is a large gull that breeds in North America, where it is treated by the American Ornithological Society as a subspecies of herring gull.
Source: Wikipedia — American herring gull Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Large gull; pale gray back with black wingtips, pink legs, yellow bill with red spot.
Similar species. Great Black-backed Gull (much darker back). Ring-billed Gull (smaller, ringed bill).
Voice. Iconic gull "laughing" calls.
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. Diverse: fish, marine invertebrates, garbage, eggs, smaller birds.
Behavior. Highly adaptable; coastal beaches, parking lots, dumps. Often takes mussels and clams to height and drops them on rocks to crack.
§ Range
Across North America; breeds north, winters south
§ Habitat
Coastal beaches, garbage dumps, parking lots, inland waters
§ Threats
Plastic pollution, oil spills, declining North Atlantic fisheries reducing food, eggshell thinning from contaminants.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the american herring gull is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Reduce ocean plastic. Support sustainable fisheries. Don't feed gulls at beaches (creates conflicts).
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — American herring gull
- www.allaboutbirds.org — authoritative profile of Larus smithsonianus
- IUCN Red List · taxon 62030412
- iNaturalist · taxon 3736
- eBird · hergul
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Larus smithsonianus
§ Sources cited
- Cornell Lab — All About Birds
- National Audubon Society
- iNaturalist
- IUCN Red List 2018
