Great black-backed gull

Scientific name: Larus marinus

How weight is recorded: Whole weight

Field notes

Appearance

Adults are large gulls with black backs and white undersides, white head and neck, and pale yellow eyes with a red orbital ring. They have heavy yellow bills with a red spot near the tip and flesh-colored legs.

Size and weight

Adults weigh 1.3–2.1 kg, with body length of 64–78 cm. Males are typically larger than females.

Habitat

Great black-backed gulls inhabit coastal regions, rocky shores, cliffs, and islands with access to marine environments. They also use inland lakes, estuaries, and occasionally urban coastal areas.

Distribution

Found across the North Atlantic, from Greenland and northern Canada to southern Europe and North Africa. Within range, they prefer rocky coastlines and offshore islands.

Diet

Great black-backed gulls are opportunistic carnivores, feeding on fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and seabirds; they also scavenge carrion and food waste, with diet varying seasonally by local prey availability.

Behaviour

Diurnal and highly social, they rest on water or shore during calm periods and are active fliers. They congregate in loose colonies and roost communally, becoming more vocal and defensive near breeding areas.

Hunting tips

Look for droppings and whitewash on rocks and cliff ledges, and listen for their loud, barking calls. Approach from downwind across open water or from behind elevated terrain to avoid detection. These strong, alert fliers require patience and concealment; glass shorelines and cliffs at dawn or dusk when birds are most active.

Whole weight

This species is logged by whole weight — the animal weighed entire, as taken.

Where it is hunted

Listed as huntable in 1 country in Huntify.

Finland

Names in other languages

These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.