Herring Gull (Larus argentatus)

The Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) is a large, robust bird commonly found along coastlines and inland waterways. Known for its distinctive red spot on the beak, this gull is often seen mingling with flocks of smaller Ring-billed Gulls, making it a familiar sight for birdwatchers year-round.

🇫🇷	Goéland argenté
🇩🇪	Amerikanische Silbermöwe, Kanadamöwe
🇲🇽	Gaviota argéntea

Taxonomy

Order	Charadriiformes
Family	Laridae

ID and Whereabouts

The Herring Gull, while bearing a resemblance to the Ring-billed Gull, can be distinguished by the prominent red spot on its beak. Additionally, its larger size is a notable characteristic, especially when observed in flocks alongside the smaller Ring-billed Gulls.

Although less common, the Herring Gull can be observed year-round along riverbanks. A favored location for spotting these birds is Rapids Park Lachine, where they often rest in flocks on elevated areas within the river.

Location	Spring	Summer	Autumn	Winter
Parc Angrignon	x	-	-	-
Parc National du Bic	x	-	-	-
Parc de la Frayère	-	-	-	x
Parc des Rapides	-	-	-	x

"x" indicates the species was observed, while "-" indicates no observation. Lack of observation doesn't necessarily imply that the species is absent. Data is derived from our park visit journals.

Characteristics

Length	53-66cm
Weight	600–1650g
Wingspan	120-155cm
Clutch Size	2-4 eggs
Incubation	26-33 days
Fledging	6 weeks
Sexual Maturity	4 years

Explore More

📖 For more information about this species: Wikipedia Page