Herring Gulls (Larus argentatus) and Great Black-backed Gulls (Larus marinus)

Herring Gulls (Larus argentatus) and Great Black-backed Gulls (Larus marinus) are familiar to anyone who has ever visited the Atlantic Ocean in New England. Their noisy calls, large size, and abundance make them stand out as the conspicuous "sea gulls" of beaches, marinas, towns, and garbage dumps.

Click below to hear the Herring Gull:

Great Black-backed Gulls are among the largest seabirds found on the East Coast. Great Black-backed Gulls have benefited greatly from humans and have increased to great numbers. As a result, they now breed in areas where they formerly did not, and cause great pressure on other seabird species. Although they are usually passive, in some instances they can be aggressive and dangerous to smaller seabirds on Eastern Egg Rock.

Great Black-backed Gulls tear apart a fish tehy are fighting over

Great Black-backed Gull attacking an Arctic Tern chick

In the picture at left, a Great Black-backed Gull is attacking a young Arctic Tern. They frequently kill tern chicks and fledglings, along with many other seabird species.

Arctic Tern adults attempt to protect the chick

In this photo, the adult Arctic Terns attempt to drive the Great Black-backed Gull away and rescue the chick.

Great Black-backed Gull with Arctic Tern chick in beak

The efforts of the adult terns fail and the Great Black-backed Gull captures and kills the Arctic Tern chick in its beak. Because of the devastating effect predation by Great Black-backed Gulls and Herring Gulls can have on the nesting seabirds--including puffins--Project Puffin often has to remove these gull species from the islands.