Bird
🐦
🐦
Size
54–60 cm (length)About the size of a large duck, but bulkier
Weight
750–1250 gRoughly the weight of a bag of sugar
Lifespan
Around 12 years (up to 30+ recorded)
Rarity
Common
M vs F
Look alike; males are usually slightly larger and bigger-billed
Habitat
Coasts, cliffs, harbours, and increasingly town and city rooftops
Best time
Year-round; most vocal and visible in the breeding season (spring/summer)
Conservation
UK: Red
LC
💡 Did you know?
Herring Gulls are famous for stealing chips and ice cream at the seaside — they've learned that humans are an easy source of food!
Despite seeming common everywhere, Herring Gull numbers have declined sharply at their traditional coastal breeding colonies, which is why they're Red-listed in the UK — much of what people see are urban birds nesting on rooftops instead.
Often confused with
Lesser Black-backed Gull (darker grey back)
Great Black-backed Gull (much larger
near-black back)
0
Be the first to spot this!