The Great Black-backed Gull is the largest species of gull in the world. They may be up to 31 inches long and large male birds may weigh over 5 pounds!
Like many species of gull, Great Black-backed Gulls are opportunistic feeders, scavenging up to half of their daily food intake. Unlike other gulls, however, they are also known to hunt and kill live prey. These clever birds use a variety of techniques to accomplish this, lacking strong talons or a raptor's strong beak.
The population trend for the Great Black-backed Gull is increasing, and the conservation status for the species is Least Concern as of November 2014.
