Great Black-backed Gull

§ Quick facts

§ Encyclopedia

The great black-backed gull is the largest member of the gull and tern family Laridae. It is a very aggressive hunter, pirate and scavenger which breeds on the North Atlantic coasts and islands of northern Europe and northeastern North America. Southern populations are generally sedentary, while those breeding in the far north migrate farther south in winter. A few also move inland to large lakes and reservoirs. The adult has a white head, neck and underparts, dark blackish-grey wings and back, pink legs and the bill yellow with a red spot.

Source: Wikipedia — Great black-backed gull · Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

§ Identification

Field marks. Massive gull with a black back and wings, white head and underparts, pink legs, and a heavy yellow bill with a red spot. Immatures checkered black-and-white with a contrasting white head.

Similar species. Lesser Black-backed Gull is much smaller with yellow legs and a slimmer build; nothing else matches the size and jet-black back.

Voice. A deep, gruff, guttural 'owk' or laughing call, lower than any other gull.

§ Diet & behavior

Diet. Omnivorous: fish, invertebrates, scavenged food, eggs.

Behavior. The world's largest gull; a powerful predator and scavenger of the North Atlantic that takes fish, eggs, chicks, and even adult birds and small mammals.

§ Range

North Atlantic coasts

§ Habitat

Coastal areas, beaches

§ Threats

Plastic ingestion, habitat loss.

§ Conservation status

According to the IUCN Red List, the great black-backed gull is currently classified as Least Concern.

§ What helps

Reduce ocean plastic.

§ Further reading

• Wikipedia — Great black-backed gull
• www.allaboutbirds.org — authoritative profile of Larus marinus
• IUCN Red List — search for Larus marinus
• GBIF occurrence records
• Encyclopedia of Life — Larus marinus

§ Sources cited

• Cornell Lab of Ornithology — All About Birds
• National Audubon Society
• iNaturalist
• IUCN Red List