herring gull

American  

noun

1. a common, large gull, Larus argentatus, of the Northern Hemisphere.

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herring gull British  

noun

1. a common gull, Larus argentatus, that has a white plumage with black-tipped wings and pink legs

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Etymology

Origin of herring gull

An Americanism dating back to 1820–30

Example Sentences

In the 1930s, the U.S. government initiated a massive gull control program in New England where they destroyed over 800,000 herring gull and Great Black-backed gull eggs over the course of around two decades.

From Salon • Oct. 20, 2024

Every herring gull had a half-chewed herring at its feet.

From Slate • Feb. 4, 2024

On one outing, Dee was pleased to see a herring gull “dozing on its nest” at the base of a 2-foot-high plastic owl meant to scare the birds away.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 20, 2019

A few species, including the herring gull and the roseate spoonbill, were brought dangerously close to extinction.

From New York Times • Aug. 29, 2019

It was pearl gray and white winged, a young herring gull with a wide, flaring breast, and it seemed to be watching him, too.

From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson