Birds · Charadriiformes · Laridae

Great Black-backed Gull

Larus marinus

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

The great black-backed gull is the largest gull in the world: a wingspan of more than a metre and a half and a massive bill able to swallow puffins and rats whole. It is a formidable predator and scavenger that dominates any seabird colony where it is present. It breeds on rocky coasts of the North Atlantic and in winter appears regularly in the Bay of Biscay and in some harbours of northern Spain.

Weight

1 kg – 2.3 kg

Size

64 cm – 79 cm

Lifespan

27 years

Diet

Omnivore

Combines animal and plant food depending on availability.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

Colony

Lives in large concentrations, often for breeding reasons.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

OceanIslandsCarnivore Omnivore Diurnal Colonial Bird Ocean Islands

20countries 28parks19same family

Fun facts

It is the largest gull on the planet, and its size lets it swallow puffins, adult storm petrels and rats whole: on many North Atlantic islands it is the main predator of the smaller seabird colonies.
The adults always take the best positions: in a flock of gulls feeding on discards, the great black-backed gull systematically displaces every other species.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (bird)
Habitat & environment: Rocky coasts, islands, harbours and estuaries of the North Atlantic on both sides of the ocean
Sexual maturity: 5 years
Gestation / incubation: 27 days
Litter / clutch size: 3

Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larus_marinus