Great Black-backed Gull Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesGreat Black-backed Gull
Breeding adult
Large stout-bodied gull, with broad wings, a thick neck, and a heavy, slightly bulbous bill. Breeding adults are dark gray, nearly black above with a white head and underparts. Note pink legs.
© Ryan Schain / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, June 18, 2018Breeding adult
Hefty gull with a thick bill and a dark back. Breeding adults have a red spot on the lower bill and a red ring around the eye.
© Max McCarthy / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, March 30, 2017Breeding adults and juvenile with 2nd winter Herring Gull
Very large gull with thick, heavy bill. Adults have dark blackish back and wings; juveniles have a frosty tone and are larger than other gulls, such as the immature Herring Gull at right.
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryNew York, December 11, 2015Not all videos have sound
First winter
First-winter birds have a checkered back and diffuse streaking on the neck and breast. Note their large size, stout bicolored bill, and pink legs.
© Daniel Irons / Macaulay LibraryMaryland, October 29, 2018First winter
Large, heavy-bodied gull with a stout bill and pink legs. The back and wings on first-winter birds are checkered in tans, grays, and white.
© Miguel Rouco / Macaulay LibraryCastilla y León, December 27, 2020Second summer
Second-summer gulls have a checkered back and diffuse streaking on the neck and breast. Note the stout bill that is pink at the base with a tiny bit of pink on the tip.
© Tim Lenz / Macaulay LibraryNew York, April 11, 2017Second winter
Some second-winter birds start to acquire the dark gray color, but still have checkered backs. Note the stout bill that is pink at the base with a tiny bit of pink on the tip.
© Max McCarthy / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, April 02, 2017Second winter
Their large size and stout bill help separate them from other gulls; note also the bill that is pink at the base and tip.
© Gates Dupont / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, January 12, 2016Breeding adult
Large, dark gray gull. In flight note the larger white spot at the tip of the primaries.
© Luke Seitz / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, January 01, 2017First winter
In flight, note checkered back and wings and white rump with a black tail band.
© Alix d'Entremont / Macaulay LibraryNova Scotia, October 07, 2014Habitat
Found mainly around saltwater, but also in some freshwater locales, usually in groups with other gulls.
© Carol Baird Molander / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, September 02, 2017Similar SpeciesLesser Black-backed Gull
Nonbreeding adult
Adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls are smaller than Great Black-backed Gulls with a paler gray back and wings. They also have yellowish legs, whereas Great Black-backed Gulls have pink legs.
© Dorian Anderson / Macaulay LibraryFlorida, February 25, 2015Similar SpeciesLesser Black-backed Gull
Juvenile
Juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gulls can be separated from juvenile Great Black-backed Gulls by the smudges around their eye. They also have an entirely black bill unlike juvenile Great Black-backed Gulls that have pink at the base of the bill.
© Jeremiah Trimble / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, December 10, 2011Similar SpeciesHerring Gull
Breeding adult (American)
Adult Herring Gulls have much paler upperparts than Great Black-backed Gulls.
© Darren Clark / Macaulay LibraryNew Hampshire, June 05, 2017Similar SpeciesHerring Gull
Nonbreeding adult
Nonbreeding adult Herring Gulls can be separated from Great Black-backed gulls by their smaller size and paler gray upperparts.
© Davey Walters / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, October 10, 2016Similar SpeciesHerring Gull
Second winter (American)
Second winter Herring Gulls are more heavily streaked on the neck, head, and breast than second or first winter Great Black-backed Gulls.
© Chris Wood / Macaulay LibraryNew York, November 08, 2015Similar SpeciesWestern Gull
Breeding adult
Adult Western Gulls look similar to Great Black-backed Gulls, but they are smaller and a paler shade of gray. Their ranges also do not usually overlap.
© Joel Rurik / Macaulay LibraryOregon, April 12, 2016Similar SpeciesBald Eagle
Adult
Adult Great Black-backed Gulls are so large and dark that they can be confused with adult Bald Eagles when flying at a great distance. The eagles show all-dark bodies as well as wings that are more uniformly broad than a gull.
© Steven Mlodinow / Macaulay LibraryColorado, January 10, 2017Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
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Species in This Family
Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers(Order: Charadriiformes, Family: Laridae)
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