Scientific name:

Larus marinus

About:

Found around the coast. A very large, powerful gull, about 75cm long and obviously larger than the herring gull.

How to identify:

<p>Greyish-black above and white below, with a white head (streaky during the winter) and black wing tips with white spots. The adult great black-backed gulls can be very difficult to tell apart, especially immature birds. Adult great black-backed gulls are much larger than the others, greyish black above with pink legs.</p>

Where:

Widespread. Nests around the coast, on cliff tops, roof tops and islands.

Fantastic facts:

The largest gull in the world.