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Slaty-backed Gull

Slaty-backed Gull

Larus schistisagus

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The Slaty-backed Gull is a large, dark-backed gull of the north-western Pacific, breeding mainly in the Russian Far East and northern Japan. It is mostly coastal and wanders widely outside the breeding season, regularly reaching western Alaska and rarely North America further east and Europe. It resembles the Western Gull but has a slate-grey back and a distinctive “string of pearls” pattern on the wingtips.

Did you know?

  • On the spread wing, white crescents form a striking “string of pearls” pattern.
  • It is one of the few gulls whose range centres on the Sea of Okhotsk.

About the species

Identification

A large, heavy gull with a dark slate-grey back, a white head and underparts, pale eyes, a strong yellow bill with a red spot and pink legs. The wingtips show a row of white spots (“string of pearls”) and a broad white trailing edge. Told from Lesser Black-backed Gull especially by leg colour (yellow in Lesser Black-backed) and from Great Black-backed Gull by its slightly paler back and bold white wing pattern.

Family

Laridae

Size

Very large (swan)

Colours

white, grey, black, yellow, red

About the habitat

Breeds on rocky coasts and offshore islands of the north-western Pacific; outside the breeding season marine coasts, harbours, estuaries and offshore waters.

Diet

Omnivorous: fish and marine invertebrates, carrion, offal and refuse, eggs and chicks; it also steals prey from other birds.

Behaviour

Often follows fishing vessels and forages along coasts and around harbours, loafing on docks, beaches and ice. It breeds in colonies on coastal cliffs and islands. Like many gulls, chicks peck the red spot on the parent's bill to trigger feeding.

Sources

Photo: E-190, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ooseguro-kamome.jpg

Text: Wikipedia (English) + GBIF regional observations + Wikipedia (Finnish), CC BY-SA 4.0; GBIF occurrence data; Wikipedia: CC BY-SA 4.0 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slaty-backed_gull

See also