The great black-backed gull is the largest member of the gull and tern family Laridae, breeding on coasts and islands of the North Atlantic in northern Europe and northeastern North America. It is a highly aggressive predator, hunter, pirate and scavenger, with a white head, neck and underparts set against dark blackish grey wings and back, pink legs and a yellow bill marked with a red spot. Southern populations tend to stay put through the year while northern breeders migrate further south, and some birds move inland to large lakes and rivers in winter. The species has adapted readily to urban environments for nesting, which has let its numbers expand, though this same abundance now creates problems near airports and threats to rarer seabirds through predation and competition.
Facts
Classification
DietDetritivore or Scavenger 1 System (Realm) System (Realm) Relationship to PeopleAgricultural or Structural Pest 1 Living or Extinct Scientific Name Conservation Status Body Size Band Activity Pattern Comparison
NatureServe Rank CITES Appendix Connections
Child Taxon Of
Larus, Taxa Source Great black-backed gull (Wikidata)
In Biome
Lake, Biomes Source Great black-backed gull (Wikidata)
In Ecosystem
Source Great black-backed gull (Wikipedia)
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Sources
1. Great black-backed gull (Wikipedia)
Introduction
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.
Status
It is now a widespread and abundant species in its range and its numbers have increased to such high levels in some areas that it is often seen as a pest species, especially near airports where it risks collisions with airplanes, and in some coastal areas where it sometimes outcompetes or hunts rarer seabirds, such as Atlantic puffins, possibly resulting in conservationist inte
Infobox: status
LC
In Ecosystem: Moorland, Distribution and habitat
The great black-backed gull is found in a variety of coastal habitats, including rocky and sandy coasts and estuaries, as well as inland wetland habitats, such as lakes, ponds, rivers, wet fields and moorland.
View the Source2. GBIF Species API
GBIF Species API- System (Realm): Terrestrial
- System (Realm): Marine
View the Source 3. Great black-backed gull (Wikidata)
Wikidata- Wikidata Q26629 (P225 taxon name)
Statements section, conservation status (P141)
IUCN Red List conservation status (Wikidata property P141): least concern.
- Child Taxon Of: Larus, Wikidata P171 (parent taxon) claim, rank=normal, target=Q1887740 (Larus)
- In Biome: Lake, Introduction
View the Source 4. NatureServe Explorer: Larus marinus
NatureServe ExplorerGlobal rank (roundedGRank)Quote, Global rank (roundedGRank)
"roundedGRank": "G5"
5. Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Larus marinus (Animal Diversity Web)
Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of ZoologyConservation Status: CITESQuote, Conservation Status: CITES
CITES No special status
6. Ecological Society of America, Ecological Archives E095-178 (Wilman et al. 2014): EltonTraits 1.0 bird functional traits (BirdFuncDat)
Ecological Society of America, Ecological Archives E095-178 (Wilman et al. 2014)Row: larus marinus
4384 Nonpasseriformes Charadriiformes Laridae Gulls and terns 61 BL3 Larus marinus Great Black-backed Gull 20 20 0 0 0 20 20 0 20 0 Omnivore Ref_3 A Carolina 0 20 80 0 0 0 0 1 Ref_3 1 Jessica 0 1649.71 Dunning08 1
BirdFuncDat.txt row Larus marinus, Nocturnal column
Larus marinus Great Black-backed Gull 20 20 0 0 0 20 20 0 20 0 Omnivore Ref_3 A Carolina 0 20 80 0 0 0 0 1 Ref_3 1 Jessica 0
View the Source 7. Human Ageing Genomic Resources, University of Liverpool: AnAge entry for Larus marinus
Human Ageing Genomic Resources, University of LiverpoolLifespan, ageing, and relevant traitsQuote, Lifespan, ageing, and relevant traits
Maximum longevity 32.8 years (wild)
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