American Herring Gulls are winter birds in Minnesota: the first arrive in mid May, they are common by mid July, peak in late November (7.3% of checklists), and most are gone by mid April.
When to look
First arrivalsMay 15-21mid May
Common byJul 15-21mid July
PeakNov 22-30late November
Most gone byApr 15-21mid April
Best: late November. First arrivals mid May; most are gone by mid April. Peak: on about 7.3% of Minnesota checklists.
Jancommon
Febuncommon
Marpeak season
Aprcommon
Mayuncommon
Jununcommon
Juluncommon
Augcommon
Sepcommon
Octpeak season
Novpeak season
Decpeak season
Darker months: more checklists report it. Outlined: peak month.
Share of complete checklists reporting it, by week (4 per month). Grey bars: fewer than 10 checklists, not counted.
Frequency is the share of complete checklists in Minnesota that listed the bird, 2016–2025. It is not a head count, and it follows where and when people go birding. How to read it.
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
today
0%few checklistsno data
Each county is shaded by the share of complete checklists there that listed the bird, blended with the weeks either side. Darker is more often. It follows where people watch birds, not how many birds there are. How to read it.
Grand Marais HarborCook County, best late November · 22 checklists that week, 964 in all96%
Agate BayLake County, best early March · 26 checklists that week, 1,163 in all93%
Busy spots report more of everything; compare the checklist counts before you drive anywhere.
Best time of day
In Minnesota, the American Herring Gull is most often listed on checklists started between 2 and 4 pm (4.2% of those checklists).
Share of checklists started in each local hour that reported it. It reflects when people go birding as well as when birds are active. Grey hours have too few checklists (under 2% of the state’s, or under 200) to judge.Week-by-week table
Month
Days 1-7
8-14
15-21
22-end
January
4.0%
4.0%
3.2%
3.2%
February
2.6%
2.5%
2.1%
3.2%
March
3.4%
3.6%
5.7%
5.9%
April
4.9%
4.1%
2.8%
2.4%
May
1.9%
1.5%
2.3%
2.8%
June
2.3%
2.1%
2.1%
1.9%
July
2.2%
2.4%
2.4%
2.9%
August
3.3%
3.3%
3.3%
3.3%
September
2.7%
2.9%
3.3%
3.1%
October
3.3%
3.3%
4.0%
6.4%
November
6.9%
6.2%
6.4%
7.5%
December
7.9%
5.1%
4.1%
3.5%
Neighboring states
Iowa: arrives early October, 18 weeks later than Minnesota
Wisconsin: arrives late October, 21 weeks later than Minnesota
South Dakota: arrives early October, 18 weeks later than Minnesota
North Dakota: arrives mid September, 16 weeks later than Minnesota
Common questions
When do American Herring Gulls arrive in Minnesota?
American Herring Gulls are winter birds in Minnesota: the first arrive in mid May, they are common by mid July, peak in late November (7.3% of checklists), and most are gone by mid April.
When do American Herring Gulls leave Minnesota?
Most American Herring Gulls have left Minnesota by mid April, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until late April.
When is the best time to see a American Herring Gull in Minnesota?
The American Herring Gull is reported most often in late November, on about 7.3% of Minnesota checklists.
Where in Minnesota are American Herring Gulls seen most often?
By county, Lake County, Cook County, and Hubbard County have the highest peak reporting rates for the American Herring Gull (counties with at least 200 checklists).
