American Herring Gull
Larus smithsonianus
The American Herring Gull is a large coastal gull found along beaches, harbors, lakes, and landfills across northern North America. It is an opportunistic feeder, taking fish, crabs, mollusks, eggs, carrion, and human scraps, often using its strong bill to pry, peck, or tear food. In defense of food or nesting space, it may give loud calls, posture with raised feathers, peck, wing-slap, or dive-bomb intruders. A notable behavior is its ability to drop hard-shelled prey such as clams from the air to crack them open.
- Type
- Wing
- Conservation status
- LC
Growth chain
- ?
- American Herring Gull Juvenile
- American Herring Gull