Head to head
Herring Gull vs Ring-billed Gull
The herring gull and ring-billed gull are both common, adaptable gulls, but they differ in size, bill markings, and just how far they have adapted to life around people.
| Herring Gull | Ring-billed Gull | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Larus argentatus | Larus delawarensis |
| Relative size | Large | Medium |
| Bill marking | Yellow with a red spot | Yellow with a black ring |
| Leg colour | Pink | Yellow |
| Typical urban habitat | Coastal rooftops | Parking lots, inland lots |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Population trend | Decreasing | Stable |
| Habitat | Coastal, grassland | Coastal, grassland |
Herring Gull vs Ring-billed Gull: common questions
How can you tell a herring gull from a ring-billed gull?
The clearest difference is the bill marking: the herring gull has a yellow bill with a red spot, while the ring-billed gull has a yellow bill with a distinct black ring, along with the ring-billed gull's smaller size and yellow rather than pink legs.
Which gull is more commonly seen in parking lots, the herring gull or the ring-billed gull?
The ring-billed gull is far more associated with parking lots and fast-food restaurant lots, one of the most adaptable gulls to inland urban settings, while the herring gull tends to stay closer to the coast even as it increasingly nests on rooftops.
Are the herring gull and ring-billed gull closely related?
Both belong to the same broad group of large gulls and share a generalist, omnivorous diet, but the ring-billed gull belongs to a different scientific genus than the herring gull and is notably smaller and more common inland.