Herring Gull
Larus argentatus
Tap image to enlarge · Wikimedia Commons
Overview
The Herring Gull is the 'seagull' of popular imagination — large, imperious, yellow-eyed and red-spotted-billed. Despite being seen as common, UK breeding populations have fallen by over 50% since the 1970s — it's now red-listed. The causes are debated: changes in fishing industry, reduced landfill availability and urban development on breeding sites. On the Sefton Coast they're still ubiquitous — but this wasn't always so and may not remain so.
At a Glance
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Laridae |
| Habitat | Beach · Estuary · Urban areas · Coastal lagoon · Farmland |
| Diet | Fish, invertebrates, carrion, scraps, eggs and chicks of other birds — generalist scavenger |
| UK population | Around 130,000 pairs; red-listed due to severe breeding decline |
| Sefton Coast | Common year-round throughout the Sefton Coast |
| Conservation | UK Red List |
Where to See It
Everywhere — beach, Marshside, Southport promenade, car parks. The default large gull.
Identification
Large gull. Adult: silver-grey back, white head and body, pink legs, yellow eye, yellow bill with red spot. Wingtips black with white mirrors. Juvenile complex brown, taking 4 years to reach adult plumage.
Viewing & Photography Tips
The large, pale-backed gull with pink legs and red-spotted bill on the beach. Immature birds are complex brown and take practice to identify — concentrate on adult birds initially.
Conservation Status
UK Red List
This species is on the UK Red List for Birds (BoCC5), indicating serious concern about its population decline or unfavourable conservation status. Monitoring this species on the Sefton Coast contributes to national population tracking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are Herring Gulls red-listed when they seem so common?
Despite appearing abundant in coastal towns, UK Herring Gull breeding populations have fallen by more than 50% since the 1970s. The decline is driven by reduced fishing industry waste (traditionally a key food source), closure of landfill sites, and poor breeding success on traditional coastal habitats. Urban roof-nesting is partly compensating but not enough to halt the decline.
Related Species
Plan your visit to the Sefton Coast
Marshside RSPB, Formby pinewoods, Ainsdale NNR — practical guides to getting there, what to bring, and the best spots for each season.