Herring Gull

Larus argentatus

General Status Rank: 
Secure
ELCODE: 
ABNNM03120
Common Name: 
Herring Gull
Scientific Name: 
Larus argentatus
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Taxonomy
Group: 
Bird
Kingdom: 
Animalia
Phylum: 
Chordata
Class: 
Aves
Order: 
Charadriiformes
Family: 
Laridae
References: 
B004
General Biology

Female Age at Maturity

4
References: 
H131

Economic/Human Considerations

non-hunted species
References: 
H131
Habitat
coastal and larger freshwater
References: 
B004
H131
Distribution

Ecozones

Northern Arctic, Southern Arctic, Taiga Cordillera, Taiga Plains, Taiga Shield, Boreal Cordillera, Boreal Plains
References: 
B004

Distribution

0.87; Present throughout NWT except high arctic islands. Range estimated from map provided in Canadian Wildlife Service - Prairie and Northern Region, 2009. Bird Distributions in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories: 2009 Review.
Score: 
G
References: 
B004
Winter Distribution Description: 
southern Canada to Central America

Number of Occurrences

Numerous occurences throughout territory (Canadian Wildlife Service, 2015. NWT/NU Bird Checklist, Unpublished Data, Accessed 26Jan2015; eBird Basic Dataset. Version: EBD_relAug-2014. Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York. Aug 2014.).
Score: 
DE
References: 
H131
H305

Area of Occupancy

unknown, likely stable
Score: 
-
References: 
H131
CS26
Population

Population Size

Exact numbers unknown, but in the thousands. Approximately 3000 breeding adults on Great Slave Lake alone (R257)
Score: 
EF
References: 
H131
R257

Density

colonial or solitary
Trends

Trends

likely stable, declines in other parts of Canada
References: 
H131
CS26
Threats

Threats

Human disturbance, contaminants, pollution
Score: 
C
References: 
GG12
H131

Intrinsic Vulnerability

possibly pollution, development, global climate change
Score: 
-
References: 
GG12
H131
General Status Rank
Rank: 
Secure
Status Rank Description: 
Widespread distribution throughout territory, and no evidence of significant threats or population changes in the NWT has been presented. Considered a species of "Moderate Concern" in Canada by Milko et al. 2003, due to declines observed on the Great Lakes and Eastern Canada (Milko, R., L. Dickson, R. Elliott, and G. Donaldson. 2003. Wings Over Water: Canada's waterbird conservation plan. Environment Canada, Ottawa ON.).
S Rank: 
S4S5
Decision Process Description: 
Drafted by Grant Gilchrist in 2000 based mostly on printed material. Reviewed in 2005 by C. Swoboda, based on printed material: no change in status.; Reviewed in 2010;no change; Reviewed by Paul F. Woodard CWS in 2015, no change
Last Updated: 
February 3, 2015

References

Age Of Maturity

  • Gilchrist Grant (2000) Pers. communication. Wildlife Population Biologist, Eastern Arctic, CWS Yellowknife - H131 Return

Area of Occupancy

  • Gilchrist Grant (2000) Pers. communication. Wildlife Population Biologist, Eastern Arctic, CWS Yellowknife - H131 Return
  • Anonymous (2003) Wings over Water – Canada’s Waterbird Conservation Plan. Canadian Wildlife Service, - CS26 Return

Economic Status

  • Gilchrist Grant (2000) Pers. communication. Wildlife Population Biologist, Eastern Arctic, CWS Yellowknife - H131 Return

Ecozones

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return

Habitat

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return
  • Gilchrist Grant (2000) Pers. communication. Wildlife Population Biologist, Eastern Arctic, CWS Yellowknife - H131 Return

Intrinsic Vulnerability

  • Sirois, J., Fournier, M.A., and M.F. Kay (1995) The colonial waterbirds of Great Slave lake, Northwest Territories: an annotated atlas. Canadian Wildlife Service CWS Occassional Paper no. 89 CWS library. Yellowknife - GG12 Return
  • Gilchrist Grant (2000) Pers. communication. Wildlife Population Biologist, Eastern Arctic, CWS Yellowknife - H131 Return

NWT Known Subspecies

Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return

Number of Occurrences

  • Gilchrist Grant (2000) Pers. communication. Wildlife Population Biologist, Eastern Arctic, CWS Yellowknife - H131 Return
  • Danica Hogan and Paul F. Woodard (2015) ecopy - H305 Return

Population Size

Gilchrist Grant (2000) Pers. communication. Wildlife Population Biologist, Eastern Arctic, CWS Yellowknife - H131 Return
,
Woodard, P.F., M.A. Fournier, and M.O. Wiebe Robertson. (2013) Technical Report Series No. 526, Canadian Wildlife Service, Yellowknife, NT.). http://ec.gc.ca/nature/8A501AF4-58FB-4EDD-85BC-6A8221031199/North_Arm_Larid_Report_E_v3_web.pdf - R257 Return

Range Extent

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return

Short Term Trends

  • Gilchrist Grant (2000) Pers. communication. Wildlife Population Biologist, Eastern Arctic, CWS Yellowknife - H131 Return
  • Anonymous (2003) Wings over Water – Canada’s Waterbird Conservation Plan. Canadian Wildlife Service, - CS26 Return

Taxonomy

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return

Threats

  • Sirois, J., Fournier, M.A., and M.F. Kay (1995) The colonial waterbirds of Great Slave lake, Northwest Territories: an annotated atlas. Canadian Wildlife Service CWS Occassional Paper no. 89 CWS library. Yellowknife - GG12 Return
  • Gilchrist Grant (2000) Pers. communication. Wildlife Population Biologist, Eastern Arctic, CWS Yellowknife - H131 Return