email a friend
printable version
closeLC
Mew Gull Larus canus
IUCN Red List history
| Year | Category |
|---|---|
| 2012 | Least Concern |
| 2009 | Least Concern |
| 2008 | Least Concern |
| 2004 | Least Concern |
| 2000 | Lower Risk/Least Concern |
| 1994 | Lower Risk/Least Concern |
| 1988 | Lower Risk/Least Concern |
Species attributes
| Migratory status | full migrant | Forest dependency | Does not normally occur in forest |
| Land mass type | Average mass | - |
Distribution
| Estimate | Data quality | |
|---|---|---|
| Extent of Occurrence breeding/resident (km2) | 14,200,000 | |
| Extent of Occurrence non-breeding (km2) | 14,200,000 | |
| Number of locations | - | |
| Fragmentation | - |
Population & trend
| Estimate | Data quality | Derivation | Year of estimate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. of mature individuals | poor | Estimated | 2009 | |
| Population trend | Unknown | - | ||
| Number of subpopulations | - | - | - | |
| Largest subpopulation | - | - | - | |
| Generation length (yrs) | 9.8 | - | - | - |
| Population justification: The global population is estimated to number c.2,500,000-3,700,000 individuals (Wetlands International 2006), while national population sizes have been estimated at c.100-10,000 breeding pairs and c.50-1,000 wintering individuals in China and c.10,000-100,000 breeding pairs and c.1,000-10,000 individuals on migration in Russia (Brazil 2009). | ||||
| Trend justification: The population trend is difficult to determine because of uncertainty over the extent of threats to the species across its wide range (del Hoyo et al. 1996). | ||||
Country/Territory distribution
| Country/Territory | Occurrence status | Extinct | Breeding | Non-breeding | Passage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | Vagrant | No | |||
| Albania | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Algeria | Native | No | |||
| Austria | Native | No | |||
| Azerbaijan | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Bahrain | Vagrant | No | Yes | ||
| Belarus | Native | No | |||
| Belgium | Native | No | |||
| Bhutan | Vagrant | No | |||
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | Native | No | |||
| Bulgaria | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Canada | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| China (mainland) | Native | No | |||
| Croatia | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Cyprus | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Czech Republic | Native | No | |||
| Denmark | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Egypt | Native | No | |||
| Estonia | Native | No | |||
| Faroe Islands (to Denmark) | Native | No | |||
| Finland | Native | No | Yes | ||
| France | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Gambia | Vagrant | No | |||
| Georgia | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Germany | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Gibraltar (to UK) | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Greece | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Greenland (to Denmark) | Vagrant | No | |||
| Hong Kong (China) | Vagrant | No | |||
| Hungary | Native | No | |||
| Iceland | Native | No | |||
| India | Vagrant | No | |||
| Iran, Islamic Republic of | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Iraq | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Ireland | Native | No | |||
| Israel | Native | No | |||
| Italy | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Japan | Native | No | |||
| Jordan | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Kazakhstan | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Kuwait | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Kyrgyzstan | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Latvia | Native | No | |||
| Lebanon | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Libya | Vagrant | No | |||
| Liechtenstein | Vagrant | No | |||
| Lithuania | Native | No | |||
| Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Malta | Vagrant | No | |||
| Mauritania | Vagrant | No | |||
| Mexico | Native | No | |||
| Moldova | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Mongolia | Native | No | |||
| Montenegro | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Morocco | Vagrant | No | |||
| Myanmar | Vagrant | No | |||
| Nepal | Vagrant | No | |||
| Netherlands | Native | No | |||
| North Korea | Native | No | |||
| Norway | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Oman | Vagrant | No | Yes | ||
| Pakistan | Vagrant | No | |||
| Palau | Unknown | No | |||
| Palestinian Authority Territories | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Poland | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Portugal | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Romania | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Russia (Asian) | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Russia (Central Asian) | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Russia (European) | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Saudi Arabia | Vagrant | No | Yes | ||
| Senegal | Vagrant | No | |||
| Serbia | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Slovakia | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Slovenia | Native | No | Yes | ||
| South Korea | Native | No | |||
| Spain | Native | No | Yes | ||
| St Pierre and Miquelon (to France) | Vagrant | No | Yes | ||
| Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands (to Norway) | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Sweden | Native | No | |||
| Switzerland | Native | No | |||
| Syria | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Taiwan (China) | Unknown | No | |||
| Tajikistan | Native | No | |||
| Tunisia | Native | No | |||
| Turkey | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Turkmenistan | Native | Yes | Yes | ||
| Ukraine | Native | No | Yes | ||
| United Arab Emirates | Vagrant | No | Yes | ||
| United Kingdom | Native | No | |||
| USA | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Vietnam | Native | No |
Important Bird Areas where this species has triggered the IBA criteria
| Country/Territory | IBA Name | IBA link |
|---|---|---|
| Bulgaria | Batova |  |
| Bulgaria | Durankulak Lake | |
| Bulgaria | Kaliakra | |
| Bulgaria | Shabla Lake Complex | |
| Bulgaria | Varna-Beloslav Lakes Complex | |
| Canada | Barkley Sound | |
| Canada | Baynes Sound | |
| Canada | Cowichan estuary | |
| Canada | Nares Lake | |
| Canada | Porlier Pass | |
| Canada | Shallow Bay, Big Slough and Swan Lake | |
| Canada | Sidney Channel | |
| Denmark | Coast from Aggersund to Bygholm Vejle | |
| Denmark | Eastern German Bight | |
| Denmark | Hjelm | |
| Denmark | Nissum Fjord | |
| Denmark | Roskilde Fjord, Selsø and Kattinge Søerne | |
| Denmark | Skallingen and Langli | |
| Denmark | Sydfynske Ø-hav | |
| Denmark | Ulvedybet and Nibe Bredning | |
| Finland | Itäinen Suomenlahti National Park | |
| Finland | Kokkola and Kälviä archipelago | |
| Finland | Kristiinankaupunki southern archipelago | |
| Finland | Kukkiajärvi lake | |
| Finland | Merenkurkku archipelago | |
| Finland | Oulu region wetlands | |
| Finland | Pori archipelago and wetlands | |
| Finland | Rahja archipelago | |
| Finland | Rauma and Luvia archipelagos | |
| Finland | Tammisaari and Inkoo western archipelago | |
| Iran, Islamic Republic of | Lake Alagol, Lake Ulmagol and Lake Ajigol | |
| Iran, Islamic Republic of | Miankaleh Peninsula and Gorgan Bay | |
| Iran, Islamic Republic of | South Caspian shore, from Astara to Gomishan | |
| Lithuania | Kretuonas Landscape Reserve | |
| Netherlands | Dunes of Schoorl | |
| Netherlands | Schiermonnikoog | |
| Netherlands | Texel: Dunes and Hors | |
| Netherlands | Vlieland | |
| Netherlands | Zwanenwater | |
| Norway | Stjørdals Fjord | |
| Oman | Al Batinah coast | |
| Romania | Black Sea | |
| Romania | Danube Delta | |
| Russia (Asian) | Angara river source | |
| Russia (Asian) | Aniva bay | |
| Russia (Asian) | Balagansk forest-steppe | |
| Russia (Asian) | Khayryuzova bay | |
| Russia (Asian) | Kunashir island | |
| Russia (Asian) | Nevskoye lake | |
| Russia (Asian) | North-east Sakhalin lagoons | |
| Russia (European) | Berezovye islands of Vyborg Bay | |
| Russia (European) | Bylinskaya | |
| Russia (European) | Danilovskoye marshes | |
| Russia (European) | Dunilovskoye bog | |
| Russia (European) | Kamsko-Bakaldinskiye marshes | |
| Russia (European) | Kargopol' area | |
| Russia (European) | Kuloy river | |
| Russia (European) | Lake Lacha | |
| Russia (European) | Marshes near villages Frolishchi and Chistoye | |
| Russia (European) | Nothern part of Gor'koe reservoir with spurs | |
| Russia (European) | Peat pits in Volodarski and Balakhninski districts | |
| Russia (European) | Ptich'ya magistral' area | |
| Russia (European) | Rybinsk reservoir | |
| Russia (European) | Sitnikovski Reserve | |
| Russia (European) | Solovetski Archipelago and Zjizjginski island | |
| Russia (European) | Varegovskoye bog | |
| Sweden | Outer Stockholm archipelago | |
| United Kingdom | Bluemill | |
| United Kingdom | Correen Hills | |
| United Kingdom | Loch of Skene | |
| United Kingdom | Tips of Corsemaul and Tom Mor | |
| USA | Northern Montague Island | |
Habitats & altitude
| Habitat (level 1) | Habitat (level 2) | Importance | Occurrence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Artificial/Aquatic & Marine | Water Storage Areas (over 8ha) | suitable | breeding |
| Artificial/Aquatic & Marine | Water Storage Areas (over 8ha) | suitable | non-breeding |
| Artificial/Terrestrial | Pastureland | suitable | breeding |
| Artificial/Terrestrial | Pastureland | suitable | non-breeding |
| Grassland | Temperate | suitable | breeding |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | Sea Cliffs and Rocky Offshore Islands | major | breeding |
| Marine Intertidal | Mud Flats and Salt Flats | suitable | breeding |
| Marine Intertidal | Mud Flats and Salt Flats | suitable | non-breeding |
| Marine Intertidal | Rocky Shoreline | suitable | breeding |
| Marine Intertidal | Rocky Shoreline | suitable | non-breeding |
| Marine Intertidal | Sandy Shoreline and/or Beaches, Sand Bars, Spits, Etc | suitable | non-breeding |
| Marine Intertidal | Sandy Shoreline and/or Beaches, Sand Bars, Spits, Etc | suitable | breeding |
| Marine Intertidal | Shingle and/or Pebble Shoreline and/or Beaches | suitable | non-breeding |
| Marine Intertidal | Shingle and/or Pebble Shoreline and/or Beaches | suitable | breeding |
| Marine Intertidal | Tidepools | suitable | non-breeding |
| Marine Intertidal | Tidepools | suitable | breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Estuaries | suitable | breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Estuaries | suitable | non-breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Macroalgal/Kelp | suitable | breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Macroalgal/Kelp | suitable | non-breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Pelagic | marginal | resident |
| Marine Neritic | Seagrass (Submerged) | suitable | non-breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Seagrass (Submerged) | suitable | breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Subtidal Loose Rock/pebble/gravel | suitable | non-breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Subtidal Loose Rock/pebble/gravel | suitable | breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Subtidal Rock and Rocky Reefs | suitable | breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Subtidal Rock and Rocky Reefs | suitable | non-breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Subtidal Sandy | suitable | non-breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Subtidal Sandy | suitable | breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Subtidal Sandy-Mud | suitable | breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Subtidal Sandy-Mud | suitable | non-breeding |
| Wetlands (inland) | Bogs, Marshes, Swamps, Fens, Peatlands | suitable | breeding |
| Altitude | 0 - 1400 m | Occasional altitudinal limits |
Utilisation
| Purpose | Primary form used | Life stage used | Source | Scale | Level | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food (human) | Whole | Adults and juveniles | Wild | Subsistence, National | Non-trivial | Recent |
| Pets | Whole | Adults and juveniles | Wild | International | Non-trivial | Recent |
| Sport | Whole | Adults and juveniles | Wild | Subsistence, National | Non-trivial | Recent |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2013) Species factsheet: Larus canus. Downloaded from
http://www.birdlife.org on 20/06/2013.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2013) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
http://www.birdlife.org on 20/06/2013.
This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM and BirdLife International (2008) Threatened birds of the world 2008 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List.
To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife
To contribute to discussions on the evaluation of the IUCN Red List status of Globally Threatened Birds, please visit BirdLife's Globally Threatened Bird Forums.
| Key facts | |
|---|---|
| Current IUCN Red List category | Least Concern |
| Family | Laridae (Gulls and terns) |
| Species name author | Linnaeus, 1758 |
| Population size | mature individuals |
| Population trend | Unknown |
| Distribution size (breeding/resident) | 14,200,000 km2 |
| Country endemic? | No |
| Links to further information | |
| - Summary information on this species | |
|
|