Great Black-backed Gulls
The largest of the gulls, the Great Black-backed Gull is a dominating and opportunistic predator, scavenger and pirate that has been described as a “merciless tyrant” due to its aggressive feeding habits.
The Great Black-backed Gull has a thick-set body with a large, yellow, red-tipped bill, strong legs and wide, webbed feet which have a delicate pink hue. The breast and head are snowy white and sit in stark contrast to the black back and wings.
Young Great Black-backed Gulls undergo several plumage changes before taking on that of the adult. Juveniles are pale brown with heavy white mottling whilst immatures are also mottled but have a distinctive whitish head and breast but with a dark-tipped, pale bill
The Great Black-backed Gull occurs along the coastlines of northern Europe and northern Russia as well as the east coast of north America and central America and it can be found in a variety of coastal habitats, including rocky and sandy coasts and estuaries as well as inland habitats such as lakes, ponds, fields and moorland. It breeds in areas free of or largely inaccessible to terrestrial predators such as vegetated islands, sand dunes, flat-topped stacks, building roofs and sometimes amongst bushes on salt-marsh islands. During the winter, the Great Black-backed Gull often travels far out to sea to feed.
Date: 31st January 2020
Location: Slade harbour, Hook peninsula, Co. Wexford, Ireland
The Great Black-backed Gull has a thick-set body with a large, yellow, red-tipped bill, strong legs and wide, webbed feet which have a delicate pink hue. The breast and head are snowy white and sit in stark contrast to the black back and wings.
Young Great Black-backed Gulls undergo several plumage changes before taking on that of the adult. Juveniles are pale brown with heavy white mottling whilst immatures are also mottled but have a distinctive whitish head and breast but with a dark-tipped, pale bill
The Great Black-backed Gull occurs along the coastlines of northern Europe and northern Russia as well as the east coast of north America and central America and it can be found in a variety of coastal habitats, including rocky and sandy coasts and estuaries as well as inland habitats such as lakes, ponds, fields and moorland. It breeds in areas free of or largely inaccessible to terrestrial predators such as vegetated islands, sand dunes, flat-topped stacks, building roofs and sometimes amongst bushes on salt-marsh islands. During the winter, the Great Black-backed Gull often travels far out to sea to feed.
Date: 31st January 2020
Location: Slade harbour, Hook peninsula, Co. Wexford, Ireland
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Also in: Ireland - January and February 2020
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