Great Black-backed Gull - Larus marinus
The largest gull in the world. It is bulky, and has a powerful bill. The adults have blacker wings and back than the smaller Lesser Black-backed Gull. The conspicuous white spots at the tips of the primaries are often referred to as "mirrors". The legs are pinkish, and the bill yellow with a red spot. It has a heavy flight and can look quite hunched when perched. They take at least four years to reach maturity. Young birds have scaly black-brown upperparts, and a neat wing pattern.
Found around the coasts in the breeding season. At other times of year it can be found wherever gulls congregate - at reservoir roosts, rubbish tips inland, and bays and harbours.
All year round - found inland most in winter.
17,000 breeding pairs with 76,000 birds over wintering.
Fairly common winter visitor, scarce at other times.
Leicestershire & Rutland Map
Enter a town or village to see local records
MAP KEY:
Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020
UK Map
Species profile
- Common names
- Great Black-backed Gull
- Species group:
- Birds
- Kingdom:
- Animalia
- Order:
- Charadriiformes
- Family:
- Laridae
- Records on NatureSpot:
- 433
- First record:
- 08/12/2008 (Steve Lister)
- Last record:
- 03/02/2025 (Messenger, Nigel)
Total records by month
% of records within its species group
10km squares with records
The latest images and records displayed below include those awaiting verification checks so we cannot guarantee that every identification is correct. Once accepted, the record displays a green tick.
In the Latest Records section, click on the header to sort A-Z, and again to sort Z-A. Use the header boxes to filter the list.