Observe and photograph a species in its natural habitat
Learn where and when to observe a species in the wild, how to recognize it in the field, and what habitats it lives in. Get photography tips adapted to its behavior and capture stunning images without disturbing the animal. For full details, open the complete profile in the WildlifePhotographer app.
Herring Gull
Scientific name: Larus argentatus
IUCN Status: Least Concern
Family: LARIDAE
Group: Birds
Shyness: Not shy
Safe distance: 20 m
Breeding season / Courtship: 01.04-30.06
Gestation: 27–30 jours
Births: 45–50 jours
Habitat:
Coastal shores, ports, estuaries and urban areas
Description:
The herring gull is a large seabird in the family Laridae, up to 66 cm long with a wingspan of up to 1.4 m. It has a white head, body and tail, grey back and wings with black wingtips marked with white spots, and pink legs. It breeds in coastal colonies on islands, cliffs and urban roofs, foraging on fish, crustaceans, invertebrates and human refuse. The breeding season runs from April to June, when it lays 2–3 eggs in a simple ground scrape.
Recommended lens:
>=500 mm
Photography tips:
Shoot from a low vantage near the shore or a pier to include the coastal background. Use a fast shutter speed (≥1/2000 s) to freeze wing beats in flight, and favor the soft light at sunrise or sunset.
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