European Herring Gull
European Herring GullEuropean Herring GullEuropean Herring GullEuropean Herring Gull

European Herring Gull

Larus argentatus

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
10–20% · With luck
overall probability at Cairngorms National Park
304 Verified records at Cairngorms National Park
February Best month highest sighting rate
🌅 Crepuscular When it's active at dawn and dusk

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

10–20% of wildlife watchers report a European Herring Gull sighting in Cairngorms National Park, based on 304 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Cairngorms National Park

Common Gull
LC

Common Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Larus canus

30–40% · Possible
Lesser Black-backed Gull
LC

Lesser Black-backed Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Larus fuscus

5–10% · With luck
Great Black-backed Gull
LC

Great Black-backed Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Larus marinus

<5% · Rare
Black-headed Gull

Black-headed Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Chroicocephalus ridibundus

30–40% · Possible
Common Tern
LC

Common Tern

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sterna hirundo

<5% · Rare
Black-legged Kittiwake
VU

Black-legged Kittiwake

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Rissa tridactyla

Insufficient data
Arctic Tern
LC

Arctic Tern

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sterna paradisaea

Insufficient data
Sandwich Tern

Sandwich Tern

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Thalasseus sandvicensis

Insufficient data
Little Tern
LC

Little Tern

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sternula albifrons

Insufficient data
European Oystercatcher
NT

European Oystercatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Haematopus ostralegus

30–40% · Possible
Northern Lapwing
NT

Northern Lapwing

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Vanellus vanellus

20–30% · Possible
Eurasian Curlew
NT

Eurasian Curlew

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Numenius arquata

20–30% · Possible

📅 Monthly Probability

20–30
Jan
20–30
Feb
10–20
Mar
10–20
Apr
10–20
May
5–10
Jun
10–20
Jul
10–20
Aug
<5
Sep
<5
Oct
<5
Nov
5–10
Dec

🌅 When They're Spotted

Most active at dawn and dusk · across all parks (global)

🌅Crepuscular
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Snowdonia National Park 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
70–80%
2 Wadden Sea National Park 🇩🇪 Germany
50–60%
3 Gauja National Park 🇱🇻 Latvia
40–50%
4 Vatnajokull National Park 🇮🇸 Iceland
40–50%
5 Cairngorms National Park 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
10–20%
6 Thingvellir National Park 🇮🇸 Iceland
10–20%
7 Biebrza National Park 🇵🇱 Poland
<5%
8 Kiskunság National Park 🇭🇺 Hungary
<5%
9 Sierra de Guadarrama National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
<5%
10 Hortobágy National Park 🇭🇺 Hungary
Insufficient data
11 Białowieża National Park 🇵🇱 Poland
Insufficient data
12 Bavarian Forest National Park 🇩🇪 Germany
Insufficient data
13 Fertő-Hanság National Park 🇭🇺 Hungary
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a European Herring Gull in Cairngorms National Park?

About 12% of wildlife watchers report a European Herring Gull sighting in Cairngorms National Park, based on 304 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see European Herring Gull in Cairngorms National Park?

February has the highest sighting rate for European Herring Gull in Cairngorms National Park in our monthly data.

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