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

Five other seabirds were already on the list - the puffin, kittiwake, herring gull, roseate tern and arctic skua.

From BBC • Sep. 2, 2024

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

From Slate • Feb. 4, 2024

Gulls are long-lived — life spans of 20 years are not unheard of, and one of the oldest on record was a 49-year-old herring gull.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 20, 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