European herring gull

European herring gull
Winter-plumaged adult, Stockholm, Sweden.
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Laridae
Genus: Larus
Species:
L. argentatus
Binomial name
Larus argentatus
Range of L. argentatus
  Breeding range
  Year-round range
  Wintering range

The European herring gull (Larus argentatus) is a large gull, up to 66 cm (26 in) long.[2] It breeds throughout the northern and western coasts of Europe. Some European herring gulls, especially those resident in colder areas, migrate further 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.

  1. ^ BirdLife International (2018). "Larus argentatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T62030608A132672776. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T62030608A132672776.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Gilliard1958 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).