Head to head
Swallow-tailed Gull vs Herring Gull
The swallow-tailed gull and herring gull could hardly live more different lives, despite both being fully fledged members of the same gull family.
| Swallow-tailed Gull | Herring Gull | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Creagrus furcatus | Larus argentatus |
| Activity pattern | Nocturnal | Diurnal |
| Native range | Galapagos Islands almost exclusively | Northern Hemisphere coastlines |
| Diet | Mainly squid | Omnivore, highly varied |
| Tail shape | Deeply forked | Squared |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Population trend | Stable | Decreasing |
| Habitat | Ocean, coastal | Coastal, grassland |
Swallow-tailed Gull vs Herring Gull: common questions
Is the swallow-tailed gull really active only at night?
Yes, this species is considered the only truly nocturnal gull in the world, hunting squid after dark, a stark contrast to the herring gull, which is active during the day like almost every other gull species.
How do the diets of the swallow-tailed gull and herring gull differ?
The swallow-tailed gull feeds mainly on squid caught at night, while the herring gull is a highly varied omnivore eating fish, carrion, eggs, and human food waste scavenged opportunistically by day.
Why is the swallow-tailed gull found in so few places compared to the herring gull?
The swallow-tailed gull breeds almost exclusively on the volcanic shores of the Galapagos Islands, an extreme geographic restriction, while the herring gull is found across a much broader range of Northern Hemisphere coastlines.