American Herring Gull

Larus smithsonianus

Known as the Herring Gull until 2025, when American birds were split off as their own species. 'Herring' is for the fish it follows, but its scientific name, smithsonianus, honors James Smithson, the English chemist whose money founded the Smithsonian.

Larus is Latin for a gull or large seabird; smithsonianus honors James Smithson.