Talk:European herring gull

Split proposal
According to the taxonomy section, the AERC recognizes six species of Herring Gull. Of those six, only Larus argentatus lacks its' own article. I think that this article should be split, either a separate Larus argentatus article should be created, with this article covering Herring Gulls in general, the scope of this article should be narrowed and the general general information should be split off into a separate article for the Herring Gull / Lesser Black-backed Gull complex, or this article should be split into a larus argentatus article and a Herring Gull / Lesser Black-backed Gull complex article, with Herring Gull as a disambig page. -- Gordon Ecker (talk) 03:15, 31 October 2008 (UTC)
 * I've brought this up at Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Birds. For clarification, here are the split options I think we should consider:
 * Larus argentatus for the Larus argentatus species, Herring Gull for Herring Gulls in general.
 * Herring Gull for the Larus argentatus species, Herring Gull / Lesser Black-backed Gull complex for the Herring Gull / Lesser Black-backed Gull complex.
 * Larus argentatus for the Larus argentatus species, Herring Gull / Lesser Black-backed Gull complex for the Herring Gull / Lesser Black-backed Gull complex and Herring Gull as a disambiguation page
 * -- Gordon Ecker (talk) 08:17, 15 August 2009 (UTC)
 * We avoid scientific names for bird articles, so it would be "European Herring Gull", not Larus argentatus. This is especially important here, as the common name applies no matter of the taxonomic status. And as slashes are best avoided in URLs, it should probably be "Herring Gull - Lesser Black-backed Gull complex" or similar.
 * And yes, split. We can (should?) use parentheses around the species name, and thus be equivocal about species vs subspecies status. Even if ultimately they'll be maintained as ssp (I don't think so), we'll end up with subspecies articles which in case of taxa as distinct as these are always nice to have (see Peale's Falcon for example).
 * "Herring Gull" might become a redirect to the Complex article, with a dab hatnote back to the Euro gull article. Because the Complex article would be no simple disambiguation but also discuss ring species etc. Dysmorodrepanis (talk) 18:34, 14 September 2009 (UTC)
 * Progress should be made on the split proposal. I have followed what I belive are the main points above and renamed this article as European Herring Gull, and created a disambiguation page for Herring Gull. My actions need to examined closely and ammended as appropriate.  SilkTork  *YES! 13:40, 1 June 2010 (UTC)

As I am informed, the herring gull in the North Sea area is called LARUS ARGENTATUS ARGENTATUS.--Demoiselle Clarisse (talk) 23:12, 10 November 2011 (UTC)

At the moment, this article is basically 'European Herring Gulls in the UK'
Yeah, I actually wrote most of it (heh) - but this article really does need more content discussing EHGs elsewhere in the world, if anyone is able to oblige. I don't suppose that urban gulls are unique to the UK, for example - however, I haven't really been able to find out much else about the EHG and its behaviour/impact in other locations... --Kurt Shaped Box (talk) 21:30, 18 June 2010 (UTC)


 * This is a commonplace weakness of many articles of species of similar range - I suspect European Robin and the Jackdaw have similar issues which I have tried to balance what I can.Casliber (talk · contribs) 07:46, 19 June 2010 (UTC)

You can have a little discussion, for I'm a little confused: "...maximum age of 49 years recorded..." -- this is great for the gulls! But it isn't said, whether these are wild or domesticated herring gulls. Domesticated birds usually get very much older. After all they might get up to 60, 70, or even more years old.--Demoiselle Clarisse (talk) 23:05, 10 November 2011 (UTC)

Wrong information
For some reason the author wrote that the Herring Gull is " the most abundant and best known of all gulls along the shores of western Europe". It also happens to be the most abundant bird(not just gull) on the shores of the Black Sea. I live in Bulgaria, and we have a lot of them. I've also seen them in Romania and Turkey. I believe they live everywhere near the seas. So the article must be edited and the misleading map removed. Peevpl (talk) 22:40, 27 October 2011 (UTC)

I have seen what I believe to be Herring Gulls in Austria.Osborne 15:37, 3 August 2012 (UTC)

The herring gull in South Europe is basically another race.--Demoiselle Clarisse (talk) 22:59, 10 November 2011 (UTC)

Wrong information
For some reason the author wrote that the Herring Gull is " the most abundant and best known of all gulls along the shores of western Europe". It also happens to be the most abundant bird(not just gull) on the shores of the Black Sea. I live in Bulgaria, and we have a lot of them. I've also seen them in Romania and Turkey. I believe they live everywhere near the seas. So the article must be edited and the misleading map removed. Peevpl (talk) 22:40, 27 October 2011 (UTC)
 * Are there any actual sources that states which regions the gull lives in? As I am sure your right about them living there, i think this section needs a more comprehensive rewrite or something.MilkStraw532 (talk) 22:50, 27 October 2011 (UTC)


 * Are you sure that those birds aren't Caspian Gulls? Sometimes the Caspian Gull is still listed as a subspecies of the Herring Gull (and stated as being a 'Herring Gull'), sometimes (as it is on WP) the Herring Gull is split into various different full species, per the Association of European Rarities Committees list. TBH, I'm not sure when this was decided on here and how/why the decision was arrived at. Might be an idea to ask at WP:BIRDS... --Kurt Shaped Box (talk) 23:12, 27 October 2011 (UTC)

Plenty of Larus argentatus in NJ
There about here in NJ and the USA. Why no mention of that?

Norm Mikalac — Preceding unsigned comment added by 50.166.47.249 (talk) 18:13, 17 December 2013 (UTC)


 * Because the gull in North America is the American Herring Gull (Larus smithsonianus) — a different species. MeegsC (talk) 21:30, 26 September 2015 (UTC)

breading pairs
I have a couple of Herring gulls that I have developed quite a connection with. It doesn't mention it in the article but they have been returning to the same nest site for the last 4 years and have stayed as a mating pair together for the 4 years I have been observing them. The female is a very gentle natured creature and will stay observing and will actually try to engage with me for a good while several times a day. she is intensely curious, strikingly intelligent and I find fascinating to observe. faderdes 24/6/2015Faderdes (talk) 19:03, 24 June 2015 (UTC)

Whitby
In Whitby, last week I saw an official Whitby town council/Borough of Scarborough notice warning against feeding gulls. To my astonishment it then listed black headed gull, greater black backed, lesser black backed, Mediterranean, common and kittiwake all as amber protection status and the herring gull as red. Anyone know where this has come from? I have a photo if anyone doubts it. JRPG (talk) 18:32, 26 June 2018 (UTC)

Interaction with humans
This whole section is a bit of a mess with a lack of citations, contradictions (the gulls are apparently both declining and increasing in numbers), weasel words and duplicated information 51.52.43.171 (talk) 15:18, 21 May 2024 (UTC)