American Herring Gull

Q: What are the chances of seeing an American Herring Gull in New York City?

Likely. About 40% of wildlife watchers report an American Herring Gull sighting in New York City on a given day, based on 63,705 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 19th most-seen of the 359 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 80%, and over a week to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.

Q: When is the best time to see an American Herring Gull in New York City?

July and November–February. In those months about 50% of wildlife watchers report an American Herring Gull in New York City on a given day, against about 30% in April–May and September, the lowest months.

Q: What time of day is best to see an American Herring Gull?

Between 1 and 4 pm. Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most American Herring Gull sightings with a recorded time, and nearly all of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Q: Is New York City the best place to see an American Herring Gull?

Among the best. Of the 29 cities where we can rate American Herring Gull sightings, New York City ranks 2nd at about 40%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Boston (United States, about 40%).

Q: Which relatives of the American Herring Gull live in New York City?

Same genus: Larus. The closest relatives of the American Herring Gull that you can see in New York City (genus Larus, Large White-headed Gulls) are Ring-billed Gull (about 40%) and Great Black-backed Gull (about 20%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.

Q: Where does the American Herring Gull sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records. It is estimated from how often the American Herring Gull is recorded against all the birds logged in New York City (63,705 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.

Larus smithsonianus

Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic

LCLeast ConcernNTVUENCR

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassAves (Birds)
OrderCharadriiformes (Shorebirds and Allies)
FamilyLaridae (Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers)
GenusLarus (Large White-headed Gulls)
SpeciesLarus smithsonianus (American Herring Gull)

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

at New York City

In 3 days ~80% in a week >90%

63,705 Verified sightings at New York City

35,152 In all 33 parks From 2019 to 2026

January Best month

☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

Challenge City Classics WorldwideMedium

About the American Herring Gull

The American herring gull (Larus smithsonianus or Larus argentatus smithsonianus), 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 distinct from the European herring gull (Larus argentatus).

Adults are white with gray back and wings, black wingtips with white spots, and pink legs. Immature birds are gray-brown and are darker and more uniform than European herring gulls, with a darker tail. As is common with other gulls, they are colloquially referred to simply as seagulls.

It occurs in a variety of habitats including coasts, lakes, rivers, parking lots and garbage dumps. Its broad diet includes invertebrates, fish, and many other items. It usually nests near water, laying around three eggs in a scrape on the ground.

This gull was first described as a new species in 1862 by Elliott Coues based on a series of specimens from the Smithsonian Institution. It was later reclassified as a subspecies of the herring gull (Larus argentatus). The genus name is from Latin Larus, which refers to a gull or other large seabird. The species name smithsonianus commemorates... Wikipedia →

Sounds

Flight call0:31

United States · 2026

Call0:17

Canada · 2018

Flight call0:37

Canada · 2015

Global Distribution

Where it is recorded most Our parks where it lives Our cities where it livesIn captivity: 3 zoos & centres

Parks Where Found

#	Park	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Acadia National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~80%
2	Cape Breton Highlands National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	~70%
3	Isle Royale National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~70%
4	Point Pelee National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	~60%
5	Gros Morne National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	~60%
6	Padre Island National Seashore	🇺🇸 United States	~40%
7	Kluane National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	~20%
8	Voyageurs National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~20%
9	Wrangell-St. Elias National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~20%
10	El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	~20%
11	Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	~20%
12	Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge	🇺🇸 United States	~20%
13	Kenai Fjords National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~20%
14	Great Bear Rainforest	🇨🇦 Canada	~10%
15	Pacific Rim National Park Reserve	🇨🇦 Canada	~10%
16	Redwood National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
17	Wood Buffalo National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	~10%
18	Celestún Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	~10%
19	Olympic National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
20	Katmai National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
21	Channel Islands National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
22	Denali National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
23	Riding Mountain National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	<5%
24	Everglades National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
25	Bahía de Loreto National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	<5%
26	Ciénaga de Zapata	🇨🇺 Cuba	<5%
27	Carara National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
28	Banff National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	<5%
29	Big Cypress National Preserve	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
30	Bastimentos Island National Marine Park	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
31	Rocky Mountain National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
32	Tortuguero National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
33	La Amistad International Park (Panama)	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%

Cities Where Found

#	City	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Boston	🇺🇸 United States	~40%
2	New York City	🇺🇸 United States	~40%
3	Chicago	🇺🇸 United States	~30%
4	Toronto	🇨🇦 Canada	~30%
5	Montreal	🇨🇦 Canada	~20%
6	Baltimore	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
7	Anchorage	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
8	Calgary	🇨🇦 Canada	~10%
9	Sacramento	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
10	Philadelphia	🇺🇸 United States	~10%

Zoos & Centres Where Found

#	Zoo / Centre	Country
1	Cameron Park Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
2	Mote Marine Laboratory	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
3	Seaside Seabird Sanctuary	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity

Closest Relatives at New York City

Larus delawarensis

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

Larus marinus

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Larus schistisagus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Larus fuscus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Larus glaucoides

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Larus hyperboreus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Larus brachyrhynchus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Leucophaeus atricilla

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Sterna forsteri

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Sterna hirundo

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Sternula antillarum

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Rynchops niger

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

See all 12 relatives Show fewer

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing an American Herring Gull in New York City?

Likely

About 40% of wildlife watchers report an American Herring Gull sighting in New York City on a given day, based on 63,705 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 19th most-seen of the 359 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 80%, and over a week to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see an American Herring Gull in New York City?

July and November–February

In those months about 50% of wildlife watchers report an American Herring Gull in New York City on a given day, against about 30% in April–May and September, the lowest months.

What time of day is best to see an American Herring Gull?

Between 1 and 4 pm

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most American Herring Gull sightings with a recorded time, and nearly all of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Is New York City the best place to see an American Herring Gull?

Among the best

Of the 29 cities where we can rate American Herring Gull sightings, New York City ranks 2nd at about 40%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Boston (United States, about 40%).

Which relatives of the American Herring Gull live in New York City?

Same genus: Larus

The closest relatives of the American Herring Gull that you can see in New York City (genus Larus, Large White-headed Gulls) are Ring-billed Gull (about 40%) and Great Black-backed Gull (about 20%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.

Where does the American Herring Gull sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the American Herring Gull is recorded against all the birds logged in New York City (63,705 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.

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American Herring Gull

About the American Herring Gull

Sounds

Recent sightings of American Herring Gull in New York City

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

Cities Where Found

Zoos & Centres Where Found

Closest Relatives at New York City

Ring-billed Gull

Great Black-backed Gull

Slaty-backed Gull

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Iceland Gull

Glaucous Gull

Short-billed Gull

Laughing Gull

Forster's Tern

Common Tern

Least Tern

Black Skimmer

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing an American Herring Gull in New York City?

When is the best time to see an American Herring Gull in New York City?

What time of day is best to see an American Herring Gull?

Is New York City the best place to see an American Herring Gull?

Which relatives of the American Herring Gull live in New York City?

Where does the American Herring Gull sighting chance come from?