Fauna
Bird

Great Black-backed Gull

Larus marinus

Also known as Greater Black-backed Gull, Saddleback, Coffin-bearer

Towering over other coastal birds, the Great Black-backed Gull commands North Atlantic shores as both a dominant apex scavenger and an active predator capable of swallowing adult seabirds and small mammals whole. Mated pairs form monogamous bonds lasting decades, returning reliably to defend the exact same nesting territory against rivals year after year. Deep, resonant barking and laughing calls ring out across rocky bluffs, asserting dominance and coordinating piracy over food caught by smaller gulls and terns.

SeabirdCarnivoreCoastal
Great Black-backed Gull reference1 / 7
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyAtlantic Puffin, Atlantic Herring, Green Crab
Predators
  • Bald Eagle
  • White-tailed Eagle
  • Red Fox
ThreatsPlastic ingestion, fishing gear entanglement, oil spills, and bioaccumulation of pollutants
HabitatsRocky coastlines, coastal islands, estuaries, barrier beaches, and open ocean
Life span15–25 years
Classification
  1. OrderCharadriiformes
  2. FamilyLaridae
  3. GenusLarus
  4. SpeciesLarus marinus
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
May dive-bomb and peck defensively near active nests; maintain a respectful distance.
Why it is dangerous
Nesting adults aggressively dive-bomb perceived threats, using their sharp bill and heavy claws to strike heads and faces with substantial force.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Massive gull with slate-black upperwings, pale pink legs, and a heavy yellow bill featuring a distinct red gonys spot.
What to do
Avoid approaching active nesting grounds on foot, and hold a stick or umbrella overhead if birds begin close-range dive-bombing.
Responsible observation
  • Colony Etiquette: Keep at least 50 meters away from nesting rocks to prevent aggressive mobbing dives.
  • Observation: Scan high harbor structures and rocky jetties where individuals habitually perch alone.
  • Waste Disposal: Secure picnic food and trash to prevent conditioning the gulls to human scraps.
Related species
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