Difference between revisions of "Field Guide/Birds/Larus argentatus"

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{{Taxobox
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{{Bird_id
| color = pink
 
 
| name = Herring Gull
 
| name = Herring Gull
| status = LC
+
| latin_name = Larus argentatus
| image = Larus argentatus ad.jpg
+
| level = 4
| image_width = 250px
+
| image_1 = Larus argentatus ad.jpg
| image_caption = Adult
+
| caption_1 = Adult Herring Gull
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
+
| image_2 = Herring gull - natures pics.jpg
| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]]
+
| caption_2 = Juvenile Gull
| classis = [[bird|Aves]]
+
| description = The '''Herring Gull''', ''Larus argentatus'', is a large gull which breeds across North America, Europe and Asia. Some herring gulls, especially those resident in colder areas, migrate further south in winter, but many are permanent residents, e.g. those on the lower Great Lakes, on the east coast of North America or at the North Sea shores.  Herring Gulls are also abundant around inland garbage dumps, and some have even adapted to life in inland cities.
| ordo = [[Charadriiformes]]
 
| familia = [[gull|Laridae]]
 
| genus = ''[[Larus]]''
 
| species = '''''L. argentatus'''''
 
| binomial = ''Larus argentatus''
 
| binomial_authority = [[Erik Pontoppidan|Pontoppidan]], [[1763]]
 
}}
 
The '''Herring Gull''', ''Larus argentatus'', is a large [[gull]] which breeds across [[North America]], [[Europe]] and [[Asia]]. Some herring gulls, especially those resident in colder areas, [[bird migration|migrate]] further south in winter, but many are permanent residents, e.g. those on the lower [[Great Lakes]], on the east coast of North America or at the North Sea shores.  Herring Gulls are also abundant around inland garbage dumps, and some have even adapted to life in inland cities.
 
  
The taxonomy of the Herring Gull / [[Lesser Black-backed Gull]] complex is very complicated, different authorities recognising between two and eight species.
+
Adult Herring Gulls are similar to Ring-billed Gulls but are much larger, have pinkish legs, and a much thicker yellow bill with more pronounced lower bill. First-winter Herring Gulls are much browner, but second and third-winter birds can be confusing since soft part colors are variable and third-year Herring Gull often show a ring around the bill. Such birds are most easily distinguished by the larger size and larger bill of Herring Gull.
 
 
This group has a [[ring species|ring distribution]] around the northern hemisphere. Differences between adjacent forms in this ring are fairly small, but by the time the circuit is completed, the end members, Herring Gull and Lesser Black-backed Gull, are clearly different species.
 
 
 
Adult Herring Gulls are similar to [[Ring-billed Gull]]s but are much larger, have pinkish legs, and a much thicker yellow bill with more pronounced [[gonys]]. First-winter Herring Gulls are much browner, but second and third-winter birds can be confusing since soft part colors are variable and third-year Herring Gull often show a ring around the bill. Such birds are most easily distinguished by the larger size and larger bill of Herring Gull.
 
 
 
The [[Association of European Rarities Committees]] recognises six species:
 
 
 
* '''Herring Gull''', ''Larus argentatus''
 
* '''[[American Herring Gull]]''', ''Larus smithsonianus''
 
* '''[[Caspian Gull]]''', ''Larus cachinnans''
 
* '''[[Yellow-legged Gull]]''', ''Larus michahellis''
 
* '''[[East Siberian Gull]]''', ''Larus vegae''
 
* '''[[Armenian Gull]]''', ''Larus armenicus''
 
  
 
Adults are easily identified by their size, pale grey back and the red spot on the beak. Legs are pink at all ages. The bird depicted is the western European race ''Larus argentatus argenteus''.  The Scandinavian race ''L. a. argentatus'' is slightly larger and darker, with more white in the wing tips.
 
Adults are easily identified by their size, pale grey back and the red spot on the beak. Legs are pink at all ages. The bird depicted is the western European race ''Larus argentatus argenteus''.  The Scandinavian race ''L. a. argentatus'' is slightly larger and darker, with more white in the wing tips.
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The North American '''American Herring Gull''' is similar to ''argentatus'', except that immature birds tend to be darker and more uniformly brown.
 
The North American '''American Herring Gull''' is similar to ''argentatus'', except that immature birds tend to be darker and more uniformly brown.
  
These are omnivores like most ''Larus'' gulls, and will scavenge on rubbish tips and elsewhere, as well as seeking suitable small prey in fields or on the coast, or robbing [[plover]]s or [[lapwing]]s of their catches.
+
These are omnivores like most ''Larus'' gulls, and will scavenge on rubbish tips and elsewhere, as well as seeking suitable small prey in fields or on the coast, or robbing plovers or lapwings of their catches.
  
 
Eggs, usually three, are laid on the ground or cliff ledges in colonies, and are defended vigorously by this large gull.  The loud laughing call is well-known in the northern hemisphere.
 
Eggs, usually three, are laid on the ground or cliff ledges in colonies, and are defended vigorously by this large gull.  The loud laughing call is well-known in the northern hemisphere.
 
+
}}<noinclude>[[Category:Adventist Youth Honors Answer Book/Transcluded Modules|{{FULLCHAPTERNAME}}]]</noinclude>
[[Parasite]]s of Herring gulls include the [[trematode|fluke]] [[Microphallus piriformes]].
 
 
 
{|
 
|- align=center
 
|[[Image:Juvenile Gull 800.jpg|186px|thumb|none|A juvenile Herring Gull (''Larus argentatus'')]]
 
|[[Image:Herring gull - natures pics.jpg|186px|thumb|none|Juvenile Herring Gull]]
 
|}
 
 
 
==References==
 
* [http://www.aerc.eu/aerc_tac.htm AERC TAC's Taxonomic Recommendations]
 
* {{IUCN2006|assessors=BirdLife International|year=2004|id=49225|title=Larus argentatus|downloaded=11 May 2006}} Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
 
* ''Seabirds'' by Harrison, ISBN 0-7470-1410-8
 
 
 
==External links==
 
* [http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Herring_Gull.html Herring Gull Species Account] - Cornell Lab of Ornithology
 
* [http://www.sdakotabirds.com/species/herring_gull_info.htm Herring Gull Information and Photos] - South Dakota Birds and Birding
 
* [http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i0510id.html Herring Gull - <i>Larus argentatus</i>] - USGS Patuxent BIrd Identification InfoCenter
 
* [http://audubon-print.com/herring-gull.html Herring Gull by John Audubon]
 
* [http://ibc.hbw.com/ibc/phtml/especie.phtml?idEspecie=1605 Herring Gull videos] on the Internet Bird Collection
 
* [http://www.jncc.gov.uk/page-2887 Herring gull census in the U.K. with some background information.]
 
* [http://www.hww.ca/hww2.asp?cid=7&id=49 Herring gull fact sheet.]
 
* [http://www.baylink.org/wpc/herrgull.html An explanation of why there is a statue of a gull in Salt Lake City, Utah.]
 
* [http://www.birdguides.com/html/vidlib/species/Larus_argentatus.htm Map of Herring Gull distribution in summer and winter in Europe]
 
 
 
[[Category:Larus]]
 
[[Category:Fauna of Scotland]]
 
 
 
[[bg:Сребриста чайка]]
 
[[br:Gouelan gris]]
 
[[cs:Racek stříbřitý]]
 
[[cy:Gwylan y Penwaig]]
 
[[da:Sølvmåge]]
 
[[de:Silbermöwe]]
 
[[eo:Arĝentmevo]]
 
[[fr:Goéland argenté]]
 
[[fy:Sulvermiuw]]
 
[[it:Larus argentatus]]
 
[[lt:Sidabrinis kiras]]
 
[[li:Zèlvermiew]]
 
[[nl:Zilvermeeuw]]
 
[[ja:セグロカモメ]]
 
[[no:Gråmåke]]
 
[[nn:Gråmåse]]
 
[[pl:Mewa srebrzysta]]
 
[[pt:Gaivota prateada]]
 
[[sco:Whitemaas]]
 
[[sl:Srebrni galeb]]
 
[[fi:Harmaalokki]]
 
[[sv:Gråtrut]]
 
[[zea:Zulvermeêuwe]]
 
[[zh:银鸥]]
 

Latest revision as of 19:12, 5 July 2012

Larus argentatus (Herring Gull)
Adult Herring Gull
Juvenile Gull
Description
The Herring Gull, Larus argentatus, is a large gull which breeds across North America, Europe and Asia. Some herring gulls, especially those resident in colder areas, migrate further south in winter, but many are permanent residents, e.g. those on the lower Great Lakes, on the east coast of North America or at the North Sea shores. Herring Gulls are also abundant around inland garbage dumps, and some have even adapted to life in inland cities.

Adult Herring Gulls are similar to Ring-billed Gulls but are much larger, have pinkish legs, and a much thicker yellow bill with more pronounced lower bill. First-winter Herring Gulls are much browner, but second and third-winter birds can be confusing since soft part colors are variable and third-year Herring Gull often show a ring around the bill. Such birds are most easily distinguished by the larger size and larger bill of Herring Gull.

Adults are easily identified by their size, pale grey back and the red spot on the beak. Legs are pink at all ages. The bird depicted is the western European race Larus argentatus argenteus. The Scandinavian race L. a. argentatus is slightly larger and darker, with more white in the wing tips.

The North American American Herring Gull is similar to argentatus, except that immature birds tend to be darker and more uniformly brown.

These are omnivores like most Larus gulls, and will scavenge on rubbish tips and elsewhere, as well as seeking suitable small prey in fields or on the coast, or robbing plovers or lapwings of their catches.

Eggs, usually three, are laid on the ground or cliff ledges in colonies, and are defended vigorously by this large gull. The loud laughing call is well-known in the northern hemisphere.