Great Black-backed Gull

Name: Great Black-backed Gull

Scientific name: Larus marinus

Category: Birds

Nature Stars: 40

What are nature stars?

About: Found around the coast. A very large, powerful gull, about 75cm long and obviously larger than the Herring Gull. Greyish-black above and white below, with a white head (streaky during the winter) and black wing tips with white spots. The adult Great Black

How to identify: Gulls can be very difficult to tell apart, especially immature birds. Adult Great Black-backed Gulls are much larger than the others, greyish black above with pink legs.

Where: Widespread. Nests around the coast, on cliff tops, roof tops and islands.

Natural Superpowers

• Predator: 70
• Agility: 50
• Rarity: 40
• Cute factor: 10
• Traveller: 80

Fantastic fact: The largest gull in the world.

Photograph credit: Roger Butterfield