Great Black-backed Gull

Taxobox
name = Great Black-backed Gull
status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1

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image_width = 250px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Charadriiformes
familia = Laridae
genus = "Larus "
species = "L. marinus"
binomial = "Larus marinus"
binomial_authority = Linnaeus, 1758, Gotland, Sweden
range_

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range_map_caption= Distribution across the Northern Hemisphere

The Great Black-backed Gull, "Larus marinus", is a very large gull which breeds on the European and North American coasts and islands of the North Atlantic. It is fairly sedentary, but some Great Black-backed Gulls move further south or inland to large lakes or reservoirs.

The Great Black-backed Gull was one of the many species originally described by Linnaeus in his 18th century work, "Systema Naturae", and it still bears its original name of "Larus marinus". [la icon cite book | last=Linnaeus | first=C | authorlink=Carolus Linnaeus | title=Systema naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Tomus I. Editio decima, reformata. | publisher=Holmiae. (Laurentii Salvii). | date=1758]

This is the largest gull, much bigger than a Herring Gull and is often described as the King of Gulls. [UK Bird Holidays Guide: Oman http://www.birdholidays.co.uk/oman%202008.htm] It is 61-74 cm (24-28 in) long with a 1.4-1.7 m wingspan, the large adult males often weighing in at more than 2 kilogrammes. It is bulky, and has a powerful bill. The adults have black wings and back, with conspicuous white "mirrors" at the wing tips. The legs are pinkish, and the bill yellow with a red spot.

Young birds have scaly black-brown upperparts, and a neat wing pattern. They take at least four years to reach maturity, development in this species being somewhat slower than that of other large gulls. The call is a deep "laughing" cry.

Unlike most "Larus" gulls, Great Black-backed Gulls are mostly carnivorous and frequently hunt and kill any prey smaller than themselves, behaving more like a raptor than a typical larid gull, though they will also scavenge. They frequently rob other seabirds of their catch and have been known to follow feeding Humpback Whales in order to catch fish driven to the surface by the whale. They can swallow a puffin or a small wild duck whole.

This species breeds singly or in small colonies, making a lined nest on the ground often on top of a rocky stack. 1-3 eggs are laid. Young Great Black-backed Gulls leave the nest area at 50 days of age and may remain with their parents for months afterwards - though most fledglings choose to congregate with other immature gulls in the search for food. [http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Great_Black-backed_Gull_dtl.html#coolfacts All About Birds: Great Black-backed Gull ] ]

Gallery

References

* Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
* "National Geographic" "Field Guide to the Birds of North" "America" ISBN 0-7922-6877-6
*" Seabirds" by Peter Harrison, ISBN 0-7470-1410-8
*"Handbook of the Birds of the World Vol 3", Josep del Hoyo editor, ISBN 84-87334-10-5
*"National Audubon Society" "The Sibley Guide to Birds", by David Allen Sibley, ISBN 0-679-45122-6
* Malling Olsen, Klaus and Hans Larsson, "Gulls of Europe, Asia and North America" ISBN 0-7136-7087-8