Great Black-backed Gull
Larus marinus
The Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) is a common skimmers, noddies, terns, and gull found in 65 countries, weighing about 1.6 kg. The great black-backed gull is the largest member of the gull and tern family Laridae.
About the Great Black-backed Gull
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.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
This is the largest gull in the world, considerably larger than a herring gull (Larus argentatus); only two other gulls, glaucous gull (Larus hyperboreus) and Pallas's gull (Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus), come close to matching this species in size. It is 64–79 cm (25–31 in) long with a 1.5–1.7 m (4 ft 11 in – 5 ft 7 in) wingspan and a body weight of 0.75–2.3 kg (1 lb 10 oz – 5 lb 1 oz). In a sample of 2009 adults from the North Atlantic, males were on average 1,830 g (4 lb 1⁄2 oz) and females were on average 1,488 g (3 lb 4+1⁄2 oz).
What the Great Black-backed Gull sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Argentina, Mexico, Aruba, St. Barthélemy, Colombia, Martinique, U.S. Virgin Islands.
When to see it
The Great Black-backed Gull can be seen all year round, with peak activity in January. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Great Black-backed Gull?
- This is the largest gull in the world, considerably larger than a herring gull (Larus argentatus); only two other gulls, glaucous gull (Larus hyperboreus) and Pallas's gull (Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus), come close to matching this species in size. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Great Black-backed Gull?
- The Great Black-backed Gull is a huge sized bird weighing about 1.6 kg.
- Where can you see a Great Black-backed Gull?
- The Great Black-backed Gull occurs in 65 countries, including the United States, Canada, Sweden, Norway and the United Kingdom.
- What does a Great Black-backed Gull sound like?
- You can listen to 3 field recordings of the Great Black-backed Gull on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Great Black-backed Gull?
- The Great Black-backed Gull is most easily confused with the European Herring Gull, the Lesser Black-backed Gull and the Common Gull.
- Is the Great Black-backed Gull endangered?
- The Great Black-backed Gull is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Great Black-backed Gull for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
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