The ‘marmite’ of the seabird world, the Herring Gull is one of Scotland’s most familiar and misunderstood seabirds. Large, loud, and confident, it’s hard to miss. Its back is the silvery grey of fish scales, offsetting a bright white head and body. Tell it apart from similar gulls by its pink legs and powerful yellow bill marked by a distinctive red spot. Its cackling call is a coastal catchphrase heard increasingly in towns and cities.
Their attitude and switch to city living can sometimes bring them into conflict with people. Herring Gulls are seaside specialists and traditionally nest along rocky coasts, yet rooftops provide a warm, safe substitute conveniently close to an all-you-can-eat buffet of open bins and outdoor eateries. An opportunist, the Herring Gull feeds on fish, shellfish, insects, eggs, and carrion but is equally comfortable scavenging. Intelligent and bold, it can drop shellfish onto rocks to crack them open and has learned to exploit human food sources with impressive efficiency.
Long-lived and socially complex, herring gulls form strong pair bonds and loyally defend their nesting territories. Few seabirds have adjusted so effectively to a rapidly changing world in which their natural food sources are becoming harder to find and their breeding areas disturbed or redesigned by human infrastructure. Even so, Herring Gulls have declined by nearly 50% since the 1980s.
Herring Gull is on the Scottish Biodiversity List, which identifies the species that are of the most importance to biodiversity in Scotland. They are also on the UK Birds of Conservation Concern Red List.
Photos: Ben Andrew and Caroline Coleman for rspb-images.com
Action Needed
- Encourage a shift of attitudes towards these misunderstood seabirds by celebrating and promoting a better understanding of Herring Gulls (e.g RSPB and Wild Dundee project).
- Effectively protect important areas for Herring Gulls by consulting on fisheries management measures for inshore MPAs, ensuring that all marine stakeholders are fully involved, and implementing the results of the consultation.
- Work to bring the existing Special Protection Areas that are protected for Herring Gulls into good condition, while considering whether any new area meets the criteria to be considered as a protected site.
- Reduce conflict and create healthier spaces for both people and seabirds, with communities at the heart of the process.
- Improve waste management by reducing street littering and implementing “gull-proof” bins.
- Secure funding to monitor and deliver a report on the national Herring Gull population, as part of the Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2026.
Threats
Herring Gulls are Red-listed in the UK, indicating the highest conservation concern. Like other seabirds, Herring Gulls are facing cumulative threats:
- Invasive non-native species, including mammalian predators which eat their eggs, but also Tree Mallow, a plant which makes it difficult for the birds to nest.
- Unsustainable fishing and climate change, which makes it hard for them to find sufficient food at sea
- Recreational disturbance by humans coming too close to their natural nesting sites
- Inappropriately sited offshore development
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