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Great Black-backed Gull


The Great Black-backed Gull (Laurus marinus) is the largest gull in the world coming in at 30 inches in length.  The adult has a black back and wings with the rest of the plumage being white.  The legs are pale pink in color; the bill is yellow in color with a red dot toward the tip.  It takes 4 years for this bird to reach its adult plumage.  Juveniles are a mottled gray-brown and white above; they have black-tipped tails, black bills, and blackish flight feathers, and they more closely resemble the mature bird with each passing year.


This gull is found on coastal beaches, estuaries, and lagoons.  It can sometimes be found inland on lakes and rivers.  It tends to be somewhat shy in nature.  It is commonly found with the Herring Gull at all times of the year.  During the summer, the Great Black-backed gull and the Herring Gull nest together in mixed colonies.


The Great Black-backed Gull eats almost anything that is smaller than itself including fish, smaller birds, shellfish, and the eggs and young of other gull species.  The call of this gull is a deep, hoarse, swallowed-sound. They also give long, trumpet-like calls given while raising and lowering their heads repeatedly.


Click here for additional information, a range map, and vocalizations. 

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  • Home
  • Animals
    • Birds >
      • Avian Taxonomy
      • Bird Species Profiles
    • Mammal Species Profiles
    • Reptiles
    • Amphibians >
      • Frog and Toad Species Profiles
    • Fish
    • Arthropods >
      • Arthropod Species Profiles
  • Plants
    • Native Plant Societies
    • Eastern Plant Identification Guide
  • Fungi
    • Fungi Species Profiles
  • Protists
  • Nature Products Store
  • Cell Phone Ringtones
  • Madbird Feeder Cam
  • Ramblings of the Madbird Biologist
  • Bird Videos
  • News in Science
  • Nature Inspired Recipes
  • An Introduction to Scientific Classification and Naming
  • Birds in the Classroom
  • Resources
  • About Me