Herring Gull (Larus argentatus)

County List:

Rule:

Forested or Nonforested Landscapes

      (Lake or River)
   adjacent to:
      Shorelines/Mudflats

Habitat List:

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Literature:

Habitat: While Herring Gulls have actually nested on harbor rooftops in some eastern United States and European coastal cities, in the Great Lakes, the species has remained largely confined to remote islands that provide protection from ground predators. Unlike its far more prolific congener, the Ring-billed Gull, the Herring Gull requires a large area for nesting. Typical territory size is 10-15 sq m or more. The species prefers to nest on grassy substrates near clumps of herbaceous plants or shrubs.

Habitat: Breeding: Mainly on islands in lakes, rivers, and estuaries, also on coastal beaches. Wintering: Same as breeding habitat except where bodies of water freeze over.

Habitat: Ocean coasts, bays, beaches, lakes, piers, farmlands, dumps. Wide variety of habitats, typically associated with water. Most numerous along coast and around large lakes, also along major river systems. Forages at sea, on beaches, mudflats, plowed fields, marshes, or where human activity provides food (garbage dumps, picnic grounds, docks, fishing operations). Nests on islands, sometimes on gravel roofs.

Diet: Omnivorous. Diet varies with place and season, includes fish, crustaceans, mollusks, sea urchins, marine worms, birds, eggs, insects. Scavenges refuse and carrion. At sea, may feed on schools of fish driven to surface by foraging whales.

Nest: Site on ground, next to object such as shrub or rock which protects from prevailing wind. Nest is shallow scrape, usually lined with grass, feathers, debris.