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Common Gulls breed right across northern Eurasia and in Alaska and northwest Canada. The British breeding population, mostly in Scotland but with a scattering as far south as Kent and Hampshire, represents about 10% of the total European population, excluding Russia. In winter those from the most northern areas of their breeding range move south, to the North Sea and Atlantic coasts, to the inland seas and along major rivers. In Denmark, northern France, Britain and Ireland they also winter inland in substantial numbers.
    In Wiltshire in the 19th century Common Gulls were the commonest gull species in winter. They maintained their numbers in the 20th century (while other gull species increased their numbers), with flocks of several hundreds and even up to 1000, particularly in the western half of the county. Between Birds of Wiltshire and WTA2 they expanded their range from 19% of all surveyed tetrads to 33%.
    They have been reported in every month though there have been no records of breeding attempts.


