Photo: Rhododendrites / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
European Herring Gull
Larus argentatus
European Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 14 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The European Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) is a member of the Laridae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 1.1 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Charadriiformes
- Family Laridae Gulls, Terns, Skimmers
- Genus Larus
- Species argentatus
Where it lives
Coastal and inland Iceland to western France and northwestern, southwestern Russia
Quick facts
- Weight
- 1.1 kg
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Laridae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The European Herring Gull hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of coastal habitats, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The European Herring Gull is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The European Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) is a member of the Laridae family, within the order Charadriiformes. It occurs naturally across Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL coastal and inland Iceland to w France and nw, sw Russia.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.1 kg, with a wing length of about 42.9 cm and a tail of around 16.9 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 1.5 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the European Herring Gull?
The European Herring Gull is a very large bird that weighs around 1.1 kg.
Where does the European Herring Gull live?
The European Herring Gull is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL coastal and inland Iceland to w France and nw, sw Russia, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the European Herring Gull belong to?
The European Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) belongs to the Laridae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the European Herring Gull eat?
The European Herring Gull hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the European Herring Gull migrate?
The European Herring Gull is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the European Herring Gull endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the European Herring Gull make?
1 real field recording of the European Herring Gull — including its alarm call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the European Herring Gull's range?
The European Herring Gull has a mapped global range of about 1.5 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
European Herring Gull vs Ring-billed Gull: How to Tell Them Apart
How to tell a European Herring Gull from a Ring-billed Gull — size, range, family and status compared side by side, with links to each bird’s full ID guide.