Herring Gull (Larus argentatus)
Key Details
| Taxonomic Groups: | Vertebrate > bird > Bird |
| Red List Status: | Endangered (Non-breeding) / Data Deficient (Breeding) [EN(nbr) DD(br)] |
| D5 Status: | Included in the baseline Red List Index for England (Wilkins, Wilson & Brown, 2022) |
| Section 41 Status: | (not listed) |
| Taxa Included Synonym: | Larus argentatus subsp. argenteus |
| UKSI Recommended Name: | Larus argentatus |
| UKSI Recommended Authority: | Pontoppidan, 1763 |
| UKSI Recommended Qualifier: | (none specified) |
| Red List Citation: | Stanbury et al., 2021 |
| Notes on taxonomy/listing: | in s41 as Larus argentatus subsp. argenteus |
Criteria
| Question 1: | Does species need conservation or recovery in England? |
| Response: | Yes |
| Justification: | Eng WeBS trends (25 yr -1%, 10 yr -22%). Seabirds Count -60% since S2K (natural nests) |
| Question 2: | Does recovery/ conservation depend on species-specific actions? |
| Response: | Yes |
| Justification: | Non breeding pop. Breeding pop data deficient. Priority to address breeding population. |
| Question 3: | At a landscape scale, would the species benefit from untargeted habitat management to increase habitat mosaics, structural diversity, or particular successional stages? |
| Response: | No |
| Justification: | priority to address breeding population |
Species Assessment
| Current step on the Species Recovery Curve (SRC): | 6. Recovery solutions trialled |
| Recovery potential/expectation: | Medium-high |
| National Monitoring Resource: | Combination - insufficient |
| Species Comments: |
Key Actions
Key Action 1
Proposed Action: For natural sites, ensure optimum management of most important breeding sites including predation, biosecurity, disturbance, habitat management, assessment of marine infrastructure/collision risk, and supported by regular site monitoring to assess impacts and inform management. Consider and as appropriate implement the recommendations of the 2016 SPA Review for this species. Up to date evidence required for non-breeding populations.
Action targets: 7. Best approach adopted at appropriate scales
Action type: Habitat management
Duration: >10 years
Scale of Implementation: ≤ 50 sites
High priority sites:
Comments: benefits other priority species
Key Action 2
Proposed Action: Carry out regular monitoring of Herring Gull populations, including in urban areas, to inform assessment of national and regional trends via the Seabird Monitoring Programme.
Action targets: 7. Best approach adopted at appropriate scales
Action type: Targeted monitoring
Duration: >10 years
Scale of Implementation: National
High priority sites:
Comments: also relevant for other large gulls
Key Action 3
Proposed Action: Regularly review the impacts of licensed control of this species using an evidence based approach, whilst taking into account the effects of HPAI.
Action targets: 7. Best approach adopted at appropriate scales
Action type: Legal protection
Duration: >10 years
Scale of Implementation: Unknown
High priority sites:
Comments:
Acknowledgment:
Data used on this website are adapted from Threatened species recovery actions 2025 baseline (JP065): Technical report and spreadsheet user guide (Natural England, 2025). Available here.