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European Herring Gull
Larus argentatus
Silhouette: Sharon Wegner-Larsen · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderCharadriiformes (Shorebirds and Allies)
- FamilyLaridae (Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers)
- GenusLarus (Large White-headed Gulls)
- SpeciesLarus argentatus (European Herring Gull)
In 3 days ~90% in a week >90%
20,892 Verified sightings at London
10,476 In all 8 parks From 2019 to 2026
November Best month
🌅 Crepuscular When it's spotted
About the European Herring Gull
The European herring gull or simply herring gull (Larus argentatus) is a large gull, up to 66 cm (26 in) long. It breeds throughout the northern and western coasts of Europe. Some European herring gulls, especially those resident in colder areas, migrate farther south in winter, but many are permanent residents, such as in Ireland, Britain, Iceland, or on the North Sea shores. They have a varied diet, including fish, crustaceans, as well as some plants, and are also scavengers, consuming carrion and food left by or stolen from humans.
The herring gull's scientific name is from Latin. Larus appears to have referred to a gull or other large seabird and argentatus means decorated with silver. This species group has a ring distribution around the Northern Hemisphere. Most adjacent populations interbreed; however, adjacent terminal populations do not.
The Association of European Rarities Committees recognises six species: European herring gull, L. argentatus American herring gull, L. smithsonianus Caspian gull, L. cachinnans Yellow-legged gull, L. michahellis Vega gull, L. vegae Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of European Herring Gull in London
LIVEiNaturalistGlobal Distribution
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wadden Sea National Park | 🇩🇪 Germany | |
| 2 | Snowdonia National Park | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | |
| 3 | Gauja National Park | 🇱🇻 Latvia | |
| 4 | Vatnajokull National Park | 🇮🇸 Iceland | |
| 5 | Cairngorms National Park | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | |
| 6 | Kiskunság National Park | 🇭🇺 Hungary | |
| 7 | Sierra de Guadarrama National Park | 🇪🇸 Spain | |
| 8 | Biebrza National Park | 🇵🇱 Poland |
Cities Where Found
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dublin | 🇮🇪 Ireland | |
| 2 | Liverpool | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | |
| 3 | London | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | |
| 4 | Copenhagen | 🇩🇰 Denmark | |
| 5 | Amsterdam | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | |
| 6 | Rotterdam [The Hague] | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | |
| 7 | Manchester | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | |
| 8 | Helsinki | 🇫🇮 Finland | |
| 9 | Birmingham | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | |
| 10 | Saint Petersburg | 🇷🇺 Russia |
Zoos & Centres Where Found
| # | Zoo / Centre | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tierpark Berlin | 🇩🇪 Germany | |
| 2 | Heinola bird sanctuary | 🇫🇮 Finland | |
| 3 | Hellabrunn Zoo | 🇩🇪 Germany | |
| 4 | Nyíregyháza Zoo | 🇭🇺 Hungary | |
| 5 | Leningrad Zoo | 🇷🇺 Russia | |
| 6 | Station ornithologique de l'Île Grande | 🇫🇷 France | |
| 7 | Plantasia | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | |
| 8 | Micro Zoo de Saint Malo | 🇫🇷 France | |
| 9 | Ogród Zoologiczny w Katowicach | 🇵🇱 Poland | |
| 10 | Zoo Schlichtweg 11 in München | 🇩🇪 Germany | |
| 11 | Zoo Siebenbrunner Straße 6 in München | 🇩🇪 Germany | |
| 12 | Тульский экзотариум (новая экспозиция) | 🇷🇺 Russia |
Closest Relatives at London
Before you go
What are the chances of seeing a European Herring Gull in London?
Likely
About 60% of wildlife watchers report a European Herring Gull sighting in London on a given day, based on 20,892 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 16th most-seen of the 203 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 90%, and over a week to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.
When is the best time to see a European Herring Gull in London?
November
In that month about 70% of wildlife watchers report a European Herring Gull in London on a given day, against about 50% in May and June, the lowest months.
What time of day is best to see a European Herring Gull?
Between 7 and 10 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most European Herring Gull sightings with a recorded time, and about 7 in 10 of them come between 6 pm and 6 am: it is most active around dawn and dusk.
Is London the best place to see a European Herring Gull?
3rd of 29
Of the 29 cities where we can rate European Herring Gull sightings, London ranks 3rd at about 60%. The best odds are in Dublin (Ireland, about 90%) and Liverpool (United Kingdom, about 80%).
Which relatives of the European Herring Gull live in London?
Same genus: Larus
The closest relatives of the European Herring Gull that you can see in London (genus Larus, Large White-headed Gulls) are Lesser Black-backed Gull (about 40%), Common Gull (about 20%) and Great Black-backed Gull (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
Where does the European Herring Gull sighting chance come from?
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the European Herring Gull is recorded against all the birds logged in London (20,892 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
