Bird · GBIF taxon 4848480
American Herring Gull
Larus smithsonianusAlso known as Arctic Herring Gull, Smithsonian Gull
American herring gulls dominate North American coastlines and major inland waterways with their loud, laughing calls and formidable presence. Adults sport pale grey mantles, pink legs, and bright yellow bills marked with a signature red spot that chicks peck to induce regurgitation. Adaptable foragers, they drop hard-shelled mollusks onto rocks or pavement to break them open before consuming the meat.
CoastalSeabirdOmnivorous
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Small Fish
- Mussels
- Crabs
Predators
- Bald Eagle
- Great Horned Owl
- Red Fox
ThreatsPlastic pollution, entanglement in fishing gear, habitat disturbance
HabitatsCoasts, lakes, rivers, estuaries, and landfills
Life span15–30 years
Classification
- OrderCharadriiformes
- FamilyLaridae
- GenusLarus
- SpeciesLarus smithsonianus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Adults can dive-bomb aggressively if you approach active nests; observe colonies from a safe distance.
- Why it is dangerous
- Adults forcefully dive-bomb and strike human intruders with their feet and beaks to protect active nests.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Recognized by pink legs, a light yellow bill with a red spot on the lower mandible, and a grey mantle.
- What to do
- Hold an umbrella or hat above your head if walking near nesting areas, and retreat immediately.
Responsible observation
- Keep Distance: Avoid approaching nesting colonies on islands or roofs, as adults will dive-bomb intruders.
- Do Not Feed: Hand-feeding habituates birds to humans and causes aggressive food-snatching behavior.
- Watch the Wings: Look for black wingtips with distinct white spots to help distinguish adults from other large gulls.
Competitor (c) Mila C., some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Mila C. · cc-by
Frequent Companion (c) Eric Schmidt, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Eric Schmidt · cc-by
Hybrid Partner Alastair Rae from London, UK / CC BY-SA 2.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative Rhododendrites / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
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