Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus Linnaeus, 1758    Synonyms: GBBG.
Kingdom Animalia   >   Phylum Chordata   >   Class Aves   >   Order Charadriiformes   >   Family Laridae   >   Genus Larus   

Status:

The world's largest gull is common along the Atlantic Coast and Chesapeake Bay. Becomes uncommon and then rare inland as one moves west, especially in far western Maryland. Most western Maryland records occur along the Potomac River.

Where to find:

Ocean City Inlet, Sandy Point State Park, Point Lookout State Park

There are 555 records in the project database.

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A Great Black-backed Gull in Harford Co., Maryland (12/21/2019). Photo by Dave Webb. (MBP list)

Great Black-backed Gull in Calvert Co., Maryland (9/4/2022). (c) rosalie-rick, all rights reserved. Photo by rosalie-rick via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Great Black-backed Gull in Harford Co., Maryland (6/18/2016). Photo by Bill Keim. (MBP list)

An adult Great Black-backed Gull scavenges a dead Bufflehead on Assateague Island, Maryland (1/17/2009). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)(More of this species)

Great Black-backed Gull in Worcester Co., Maryland (2/6/2017). Photo by Wayne Longbottom. (MBP list)

A Great Black-backed Gull in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (10/3/2016). Photo by Matthew Beziat. (MBP list)

An immature Great Black-backed Gull with Atlantic Blue Crab in Worcester Co., Maryland (7/22/2016). Photo by Mike Burchett. (MBP list)

An immature Great Black-backed Gull in Worcester Co., Maryland (8/20/2015). Photo by Mark Johnson. (MBP list)

Great Black-backed Gull in Calvert Co., Maryland (11/20/2022). (c) rosalie-rick, all rights reserved. Photo by rosalie-rick via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A Great Black-backed Gull in Harford Co., Maryland (4/7/2018). Photo by Austin Jennings. (MBP list)

A Great Black-backed Gull in Worcester Co., Maryland (2/24/2021). Photo by Jim Stasz. (MBP list)

A first-cycle Great Black-backed Gull in St. Mary's Co., Maryland (9/27/2014). Photo by Jim Stasz. (MBP list)

A Great Black-backed Gull with plastic water bottle on Assateague Island in Worcester Co., Maryland (10/17/2013). Photo by Scott Housten. (MBP list)

A first-cycle Great Black-backed Gull in Worcester Co., Maryland (12/17/2006). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

A first-cycle Great Black-backed Gull in Allegany Co., Maryland (1/7/2018). First record for Allegany Co., presumably same bird as reported by Aaron Graham. Photo by J.B. Churchill. (MBP list)

Great Black-backed Gulls in Calvert Co., Maryland (8/2/2016). Photo by Jim Stasz. (MBP list)

A Great Black-backed Gull in Worcester Co., Maryland (3/25/2017). Photo by Ashley Bradford. (MBP list)

Great Black-backed Gulls in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (4/27/2017). Photo by Emily Carter Mitchell. (MBP list)

A Great Black-backed Gull along the Potomac River in Washington Co., Maryland (3/25/2006). Very rare in western Maryland. Photo by Jim Stasz. (MBP list)

Adult and juvenile Great Black-backed Gulls in Worcester Co., Maryland (6/20/2024). (c) danieltayloroc, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by danieltayloroc via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Great Black-backed Gull in Calvert Co., Maryland (11/18/2021). (c) rosalie-rick, all rights reserved. Photo by rosalie-rick via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A Great Black-backed Gull in Allegany Co., Maryland (1/24/2018). Photo by Jim Stasz. (MBP list)

Great Black-backed Gull in Allegany Co., Maryland (1/10/2018). Photo by Joe Hanfman. (MBP list)

Immature Great Black-backed Gull with food in Worcester Co., Maryland (11/13/2022). (c) jugbayjs, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by jugbayjs via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Great Black-backed Gull in Worcester Co., Maryland (1/13/2024). (c) Wayne Longbottom, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Wayne Longbottom. (MBP list)

A Great Black-backed Gull nest on Poplar Island, Talbot County, Maryland (6/4/2000). Photo by Jim Stasz. (MBP list)


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