European Herring Gull
Larus argentatus
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassAves (Aus)
- OrderCharadriiformes (Caradriformes)
- FamilyLaridae (Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers)
- GenusLarus (Large White-headed Gulls)
- SpeciesLarus argentatus (European Herring Gull)
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 Thingvellir National Park, based on 26 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Thingvellir National Park
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Larus fuscus
Great Black-backed Gull
Larus marinus
Common Gull
Larus canus
Glaucous Gull
Larus hyperboreus
Iceland Gull
Larus glaucoides
Black-headed Gull
Chroicocephalus ridibundus
Arctic Tern
Sterna paradisaea
Black-legged Kittiwake
Rissa tridactyla
Little Gull
Hydrocoloeus minutus
Common Snipe
Gallinago gallinago
Whimbrel
Numenius phaeopus
European Golden Plover
Pluvialis apricaria
📅 Monthly Probability
🌅 When They're Spotted
Most active at dawn and dusk · across all parks (global)
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 | |
| 2 | Wadden Sea National Park | 🇩🇪 Germany | |
| 3 | Gauja National Park | 🇱🇻 Latvia | |
| 4 | Vatnajokull National Park | 🇮🇸 Iceland | |
| 5 | Cairngorms National Park | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | |
| 6 | Thingvellir National Park | 🇮🇸 Iceland | |
| 7 | Biebrza National Park | 🇵🇱 Poland | |
| 8 | Kiskunság National Park | 🇭🇺 Hungary | |
| 9 | Sierra de Guadarrama National Park | 🇪🇸 Spain | |
| 10 | Hortobágy National Park | 🇭🇺 Hungary | |
| 11 | Białowieża National Park | 🇵🇱 Poland | |
| 12 | Bavarian Forest National Park | 🇩🇪 Germany | |
| 13 | Fertő-Hanság National Park | 🇭🇺 Hungary |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a European Herring Gull in Thingvellir National Park?
About 11% of wildlife watchers report a European Herring Gull sighting in Thingvellir National Park, based on 26 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see European Herring Gull in Thingvellir National Park?
August has the highest sighting rate for European Herring Gull in Thingvellir National Park in our monthly data.