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

The herring gull was already on the list.

From Salon • Oct. 20, 2024

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

From Slate • Feb. 4, 2024

However, it estimated that almost three-quarters of the UK and Ireland's breeding herring gull population live in urban areas, mainly along the coast.

From BBC • Dec. 17, 2023

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

I turned away and found a perch on a pylon where a herring gull had been keeping watch but was now down among the baitfish, guzzling its lunch.

From "Beyond the Bright Sea" by Lauren Wolk