THE ANIMAL FILES

European herring gull

Larus argentatus

An English “herring gull” is not a herring specialist.

European herring gulls feed along coasts, fields and towns. Their broad menu includes invertebrates, fish and plant material. Calls and head movements accompany territorial and feeding interactions, while some prey are opened by dropping them onto a hard surface.[1]

Follow the evidence ↓
European herring gull
Image: Rhododendrites · Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Diet
Opportunistic omnivore[1]
Hard prey
May be dropped to break shells[1]
Territory
A long call accompanied by head movement[1]

Many foods, no herring requirement

Stomach studies found substantial crustacean and echinoderm food. Fish are important, especially in meals delivered to young. Plant material, small prey and scavenged food broaden the menu according to local availability.[1]

Opening and exposing prey

Gulls can drop shelled animals from a height to crack them. They also drum their feet on the ground, generating vibrations that bring earthworms toward the surface. A proposed explanation is that worms respond as if a digging predator were approaching. That mechanism remains an explanation of the response, rather than proof of what a gull intends.[1]

A voice with movement

During the territorial long call, the head begins lowered and rises as calling continues. Chicks beg with repeated high peeps and head flicks. Calls therefore occur as part of visible sequences, and an observer can gain more information by recording posture and recipient alongside sound.[1]

A COMMON MIX-UP

Does the name prove that herring is its main food everywhere?

No. Studies describe a varied diet with important invertebrate foods.[1]

TRY A LITTLE REASONING

Why drop a shellfish instead of simply swallowing it?

Reveal the explanation

Impact can break a hard shell and make the contents accessible.[1]

Sources & editorial notes

Adapted and translated from the cited Wikipedia revisions, with source-linked reasoning. Image credit and licence are listed separately above.

Adapted and translated from Wikipedia contributors; exact revisions are linked below. CC BY-SA 4.0

  1. Wikipedia contributors — Larus argentatus (adapted and translated; exact revision)
  2. NCBI Taxonomy — Larus argentatus (identity and game lineage)

Last fact check:

One discovery leads to another

Atlantic puffinA bill can keep the first fish while the next one is caught.Fratercula arctica ↗Common swiftA nest made with materials caught in mid-air.Apus apus ↗Andean condorA huge bird can travel on rising air.Vultur gryphus ↗