Great Black-backed Gull

An imposing gull with a wingspan reaching up to 5.5 feet. Adults have a distinctive dark slate-black mantle contrasts sharply with snowy white underparts and yellow bill with a red spot.

Slate-gray to blackish-gray upper surface; the underside appearing a paler silver-gray. The white base and slight white edging at the tip (apical spot) are diagnostic of adult Larus species.

Mainly pennaceous with tightly interlocked barbs for flight efficiency; the base transitions into plumulaceous (downy) structure for insulation.

Thick, white to translucent rachis with a sturdy base. Barbs are densely packed, branching at approximately 45-degree angles to provide a stiff aero-surface.

Smooth, stiff, and somewhat oily to the touch, providing water resistance; matte finish with a slight waxy bloom on the dorsal surface.

Wing; specifically a secondary flight feather. Determined by the moderate asymmetry and the broad, paddle-like distal end.

Large size, dark gray-black coloration, white apical trailing edge, and thick white rachis.

Coastal environments including rocky shores, beaches, estuaries, and offshore islands; also frequents landfills and large inland lakes.

Resident or short-distance migrant across the North Atlantic coasts of North America and Europe, from the Arctic circle to the mid-Atlantic US and southern Europe.

Apex predator and opportunistic scavenger; they play a vital role in cleaning shorelines but can impact populations of other nesting seabirds.

Lesser Black-backed Gull (smaller, thinner feather), Herring Gull (much lighter gray), and Western Gull (found on Pacific coast).

The Great Black-backed Gull is the largest gull in the world and is an apex predator of the shore, known to hunt and eat other seabirds like puffins and smaller gulls.

Historically ignored for fine fashion but utilized by coastal indigenous peoples for insulation. Today, they are popular subjects for coastal photography and wildlife art.

Look for these on high tide lines or near rocky outcroppings. The combination of very dark gray and large size in a coastal secondary is usually diagnostic.

Good to Fair condition. Shows signs of beach exposure (sand and salt crusting), some light fraying on the trailing edge, and minor barb separation near the base.