Ostsee - Möwe

The Baltic Sea Gull

The Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) is a species of bird within the subfamily Larinae and the most common large gull in Northern and Western Europe. Its range extends from the White Sea along the coasts of Fennoscandia, the Baltic Sea, the North Sea, and the English Channel, as well as across large parts of the Atlantic coast of France and the British Isles. The species is also found in Iceland.

Herring Gulls are colonial breeders, with their nesting sites typically located on inaccessible islands or along steep coastlines. In many places, however, the species also nests in dune areas or salt marshes. Like most gulls, it is an omnivore, but feeds primarily on crustaceans, mollusks, fish, and human waste. While the northern populations are migratory, most other herring gulls remain near their breeding grounds. Young herring gulls, in particular, sometimes migrate long distances and can then be found far inland. After the species was severely decimated in the 19th century by egg collection and hunting, populations recovered over the course of the 20th century.