Specie's Page                                               Water Fowl - greater Black-backed Gulls

Greater Black-backed Gull:

UK Status: Resident in the UK, breeding mainly in coastal areas, and over winters more inland.

Habitat: This bird likes to nest on, or near the coast, though can be occasionally seen further inland during the summer. During the winter months they often move deeper inland and frequent waters like lakes, tarns, large pools rivers and estuaries. Their natural food is mainly fish, however they will eat almost anything that is edible, including scraps discarded by humans.

Breeding: This gull mates alone in single pairs, or sometimes in small colonies. They pair in March or April, and after nesting will go their own way. Next year the same pair will meet up at last years nest, unless one of the pair fails to return. In this case they will find a new mate, usually an immature non breeding bird. The nest is a platform of twigs lined with grass, seaweed or straw with a shallow saucer shaped depression for the eggs. Nests are often adorned with pieces of rope, plastic and other bric a brac. Their are usually three eggs in the single annual clutch, eggs are laid sometime from late April until late June. It tales the female a week to lay each egg, and she won't start incubation until all three are laid. Nesting places include rock stacks, fallen trees and on urban rooftops.

Comment: These gulls have been described by some as the King of the Atlantic Waterfront. Their numbers have been dwindling in recent times, and their future is of some concern.

Greater Black-backed Gulls have pink legs, and are larger and bulkier in appearance. Their colour is darker charcoal, or black, the white mirrors on the wing tips are larger.

Lesser Black-backed Gulls have yellow legs, a slimmer and smaller appearance, and are not as dark in colour, being slate grey. They also have smaller white mirrors on the wing tips.