Herring Gull

Name: Herring Gull

Scientific name: Larus argentatus

Category: Birds

Nature Stars: 30

What are nature stars?

About: Found on farmland, wetlands and around the coast. A large, powerful gull, the typical 'sea gull', about 60cm long. Silvery grey above and white below, with a white head (streaky during the winter) and black wing tips with white spots. The herring gull is similar in appearance to the common gull but sports a red spot on its bill.

How to identify: Gulls can be very difficult to tell apart, especially immature birds. The most familiar large gulls, adult herring gulls are silvery grey above with pink legs.

Where: Widespread. Nests around the coast, on cliff tops, roof tops and islands.

Natural Superpowers

• Predator: 70
• Agility: 50
• Rarity: 20
• Cute factor: 20
• Traveller: 80

Fantastic fact: Herring gulls were once thought to be a common gull right round the northern hemisphere. However, in recent years scientists have realised that there are in fact several very similar, closely related species of 'herring gull', including yellow-legged gull.

Photograph credit: Photo credit tbc