Heermann's Gull (Larus heermanni) is in the Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers family (Laridae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 21,000 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in August.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: seasonal. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
Conservation status (iNaturalist): NT.
When to photograph Heermann's Gull: observations by month (U.S.)
About Heermann's Gull
The Heermann's gull (Larus heermanni) is a gull resident in the United States, Mexico and extreme southwestern British Columbia, nearly all nesting on Isla Rasa in the Gulf of California. They are usually found near shores or well out to sea, very rarely inland. The species is named after Adolphus Lewis Heermann, nineteenth-century explorer and naturalist.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Heermann's Gull by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 18,864 | August | Jun–Jan |
| Washington | 1,338 | September | Jul–Oct |
| Oregon | 515 | October | Jul–Oct |
| Florida | 80 | December | Sep–Feb |
| Arizona | 34 | October | Oct–Nov |
| Maryland | 34 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Virginia | 34 | October | Oct–Feb |
| Ohio | 32 | June | Jun–Jul |
| North Carolina | 17 | February | Feb–Feb |
| Alaska | 14 | August | Aug–Aug |
| New Mexico | 11 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Texas | 9 | March | Mar–Mar |
| New Jersey | 7 | May | May–May |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers)
Ring-billed Gull
Laughing Gull
Western Gull
American Herring Gull
Royal Tern
Forster's Tern
California Gull
Caspian Tern
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Heermann's Gull?
Nationally, August has the most observations, with the main season from June to January.
Where is Heermann's Gull most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Washington, Oregon.