Pacific Gull

Much larger than the ubiquitous Silver Gull, and nowhere near as common, Pacific Gulls are usually seen alone or in pairs, loafing around the shoreline, steadily patrolling high above the edge of the water, or zooming high on the breeze to drop a shellfish or sea urchin onto rocks.

Picture of the Pacific Gull has been licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution.
Original source: |Source=Own work, Cape Conran, Victoria
Author: Glen FergusPermission(Reusing this file)All uses, with attribution

The Pacific Gull is classified as Least Concern. Does not qualify for a more at risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category.

The Pacific Gull (Larus pacificus) is a very large gull native to the southern coasts of Australia and the nearby islands. Much larger than the ubiquitous Silver Gull, and nowhere near as common, Pacific Gulls are usually seen alone or in pairs, loafing around the shoreline, steadily patrolling high above the edge of the water, or (sometimes) zooming high on the breeze to drop a shellfish or sea urchin onto rocks. More

Pacific Gull, juvenile in flight. Pacific Gull, juvenile in flight. Photo: K Vang and W Dabrowka © Bird Explorers Pacific Gull, juveniles. Pacific Gull, juveniles. More

The Pacific Gull (Larus pacificus) is a very large gull, native to the coasts of Australia. It is moderately common between Carnarvon in the west, and Sydney in the east, although it has become scarce in some parts of the south-east, as a result of competition from the Kelp Gull, which has "self-introduced" since the 1940s. More

Pacific Gull Size: 65cm Habitat: Located around Australia's Southern coastline. This large coastal bird feeds on crustaceans, crabs and sea urchins, sometimes dropping then from a height onto rocks to crack them open, also feeds on nestlings. Notes: White bird, yellow bill with red patch on end, black upper wings and yellow legs and webbed feet. Breeds Spring. For more information on Pacific Gull see references. More

Aspects of the topic Pacific gull are discussed in the following places at Britannica. Assorted References * breeding location (in gull (bird)) The Pacific gull (L. pacificus) breeds in the region of Tasmania and southern Australia. The ring-billed gull (L. delawarensis) is common on inland lakes in North America and often gathers in large flocks to feed on plowed fields. The sooty gull (L. More

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The Pacific Gull was first described by English ornithologist John Latham in 1802 from a Thomas Watling drawing, where the local name had been recorded as Troo-gad-dill. Its specific epithet refers to the Pacific Ocean. Two subspecies are recognised: the nominate race pacificus from the east coast, and georgii from South Australia and Western Australia. More

Pacific Gull is a large gull with powerful bill, endemic to Australia. Adult has black upperparts. Wings are black with narrow white trailing edge. Mantel is black. Tail is white with black subterminal band. Underparts are pure white. Head is white. Yellow bill is massive and large, with red tip. Eyes are white. Legs and webbed feet are yellow or orange-yellow. More

The Pacific Gull has a curious habit of dropping turban shells and other molluscs, especially limpets and mussels, from a height onto a rock in order to break them open. On some islands and headlands, this has resulted in the formation of 'middens' of shell fragments that could be mistaken for ancient natural beach deposits. (extract from Birds of Australia: http://birdsinbackyards.net/finder/display.cfm?id=249) Canon EOS 1D Mark II N ,Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM 1/500s f/6.3 at 400. More

Took this shot of a juvenile Pacific Gull (Larus pacificus) at Red Bluff last week on a family holiday at Lake Tyers. Another shot that demonstrates the liberating power of my new 5DmkII as this sort of pic was difficult and expensive (on motor drive) for me to take with my old landscape optimized Velvia50 film set up. Camera: Canon EOS 5D mkII / Lens: EF 100-300 f/4.5-5. More

Adult Pacific Gulls range from 58 to 66 cm in length, and are white, with dark wings and back, and a powerful, red-tipped yellow bill. Young birds are mottled-brown all over, and attain their adult plumage only gradually: by its fourth year, a young Pacific Gull has usually become difficult to tell apart from an adult bird. There are two subspecies: the nominate eastern race prefers sheltered beaches, the western race georgii is commonly found even on exposed shores. More

Pacific Gull - Definition = Pacific Gull Image:Pacific_Gull. More

common, Pacific Gulls are usually seen alone or in pairs, loafing around the shoreline, steadily patrolling high above the edge of the water, or (sometimes) zooming high on the breeze to drop a shellfish or sea urchin onto rocks. The Pacific Gull (Larus pacificus) is a very large gull, native to the coasts of Australia. More

Picture of Larus pacificus above has been licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike.
Original source: Brett Donald
Author: Brett Donald
Permission: Some rights reserved
Order : Charadriiformes
Family : Laridae
Genus : Larus
Species : pacificus
Authority : Latham, 1801