Larus schistisagus
The Slaty-backed Gull (Larus schistisagus) is a magnificent large gull of the North Pacific, characterized by its striking dark slate-gray mantle contrasting with a pristine white head and underparts. Adults typically measure 55-68 cm (22-27 in) in length with a wingspan of 130-150 cm (51-59 in) and weigh between 1-1.6 kg (2.2-3.5 lbs). Key identification features include its uniformly dark slate-gray back, a robust yellow bill often marked with a red subterminal spot, and pinkish legs; a pal...
Primarily a coastal and marine species, Slaty-backed Gulls inhabit rocky shores, offshore islands, estuaries, harbors, and urban areas near the sea. They are typically found at low elevations, often nesting on cliffs or flat ground within island colonies.
Slaty-backed Gulls are omnivorous and opportunistic, primarily feeding on fish, marine invertebrates (crabs, mollusks, echinoderms), carrion, eggs, and chicks of other birds. They forage by surface-seizing, shallow diving, aerial hawking, and scavenging at human refuse sites.
Slaty-backed Gulls are primarily diurnal, engaging in foraging and social activities during daylight hours, often roosting communally on sheltered beaches or offshore rocks at night. Their foraging strategies are highly opportunistic, encompassing surface-seizing of fish and invertebrates, plungi...
The Slaty-backed Gull primarily breeds along the remote coasts and offshore islands of Northeast Asia, with significant populations found on the Kamchatka Peninsula, the Kuril Islands, Sakhalin Island, and Hokkaido in Japan. Its breeding range also extends south to parts of Honshu. During the non...
Least Concern
- The Slaty-backed Gull is one of the largest and darkest-backed gulls found in the North Pacific, easily distinguishing it from its lighter-mantled relatives. - Its scientific epithet, "schistisagus," is derived from Greek, literally meaning "slate-mantled," a direct reference to its distinctive...