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Pacific Gull (Larus pacificus) Alternate name(s): "Mollyhawk*", "Molly Gull", "Jack Gull" Aboriginal name(s): Race "georgii": "ngalala", "yorrongop" (WA) Size: 58-66 cm; wing span 1.3-1.5 m Body mass: 0.9-1.8 kg Wing loading [g/cm2]: ca. 0.65-1.0

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Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Pacific Gulls are the largest gulls found regularly in Australia. They have a white plumage with black wings. The flight feathers are black; only the tertiaries have white tips. The tail has a white terminal band. Their most prominent feature is a massive, slightly down-curved orange-yellow bill with a deep gonys and a red tip on both mandibles. The legs and feet are yellow. There are two visible differences between the two extant races of Pacific Gull: The white lores of race "pacificus" are shaped like a triangle with a sharp point, while those of race "georgii" are rounded at the base of the bill. The irises are white in race "pacificus" and the eastern parts of the range of race "georgii". In south-western WA (western part of the range of race "georgii") they have dark iries with a red orbital ring. The sexes are very hard to distinguish in the field. However, when male and female are seen together, one can notice that the former have a more massive bill than the latter. Similarly, the breeding and non-breeding plumages are very hard to distinguish. Juvenile and immature Pacific Gulls are all mottled brown, with a brown bill (with a near-black tip) and brown legs and feet. Over the course of 5 years they gradually moult into adult plumage. Twitcher's tip Compared to Kelp Gulls, the Pacific Gull is bigger and has a much stronger bill with a more prominent red tip of the bill (black in the case of immature birds).

Taxonomy, classification See Pacific Gull at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Pacific Gull is available HERE . Pacific Gulls are endemic to Australia. There are two races, which together populate the coastline of roughly the southern half of the continent, from about the NSW/VIC border in the East (with occasional sightings up to the Hunter River) to about Carnarvon (Shark Bay) in WA in the West. They are also found all around the coastline of Tasmania and several off-shore islands from the Bass Strait to Rottnest Island off Perth, WA. Nominate race "pacificus" lives to the East of the VIC/SA border, race "georgii" to the West. Pacific Gulls are found in various coastal habitats, including coastal waters, beaches, rockfaces and islands. They can also be seen following fishing boats and scavenging for food in harbours. While race "georgii" can often be found along exposed coastlines, race "pacificus" prefers more sheltered beaches (probably because of the on average wilder weather along the eastern parts of the Australian South coast).

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "pacificus" B. Hensen spotted an immature Pacific Gull, race "pacificus", at Cape Banks, Sydney, NSW, in July 2015. We spotted an adult Pacific Gull, race "pacificus", at the Sydney Olympic Park ferry wharf in August 2015. A Pacific Gull, race "pacificus", was also spotted by B. Hensen on Bruny Island, TAS, in February 2016. R. Plumtree reports spotting a Pacific Gull, race "pacificus", at Lakes Entrance, East Gippsland, VIC, in June 2017 and again in August 2017. The species was also found at Red Bluff, Lake Tyers, East Gippsland, VIC, in August 2018. M. Eaton found Pacific Gulls, race "pacificus", at Adventure Bay, Bruny Island, TAS, in April 2021. Others were found at St. Helens, TAS, in September 2024. Race "georgii" J. Greaves reports spotting a Pacific Gull, race "georgii", at Albany, WA, in January 2015 and again in June 2020. J. Greaves also spotted Pacific Gulls, race "georgii", at Baudins Beach, Kangaroo Island, SA, in March 2016. M. Mearns reports finding Pacific Gulls, race "georgii", at Streaky Bay, SA, in August 2018. M. Eaton found several Pacific Gulls, race "georgii", at Hamelin Bay, Augusta, Margaret River, WA, in April 2019. Others were found at St. Kilda, SA, in October 2022. V. Collins reports finding Pacific Gulls, race "georgii", at Streaky Bay, SA, in January 2017. D. Dyer reports that a small flock of Pacific Gulls, race "georgii", are resident around Cervantes, WA, where they are seen regularly. C. Pears reports finding Pacific Gulls, race "georgii", regularly at Quindalup Beach, WA.

Photos

Race "pacificus"

ADULT

PAIR

Near-lateral view of a pair of Pacific Gulls, male on the left (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[St. Helens, TAS, September 2024]

Near-lateral view of a pair of Pacific Gulls, male on the left (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[St. Helens, TAS, September 2024]

Near-lateral view of a pair of Pacific Gulls, male on the left (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[St. Helens, TAS, September 2024]

Lateral view of a pair of Pacific Gulls, male on the right (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[St. Helens, TAS, September 2024]

Lateral view of a pair of Pacific Gulls, male on the right (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[St. Helens, TAS, September 2024]

Lateral view of a pair of Pacific Gulls, male on the left, surrounded by other aquatic species (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[St. Helens, TAS, September 2024]

MALE

Close-up frontal view of a male Pacific Gulls looking sideways - note the massive bill (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[St. Helens, TAS, September 2024]

Near-frontal view of a male Pacific Gulls - note the massive bill (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[St. Helens, TAS, September 2024]

Close-up near-frontal view of a male Pacific Gulls looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[St. Helens, TAS, September 2024]

Near-lateral view of a male Pacific Gull (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[St. Helens, TAS, September 2024]

Near-lateral view of a male Pacific Gull looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[St. Helens, TAS, September 2024]

Near-dorsal view of a male Pacific Gulls looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[St. Helens, TAS, September 2024]

Dorsal view of a male Pacific Gulls looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[St. Helens, TAS, September 2024]

FEMALE

Near-lateral view of a female Pacific Gull - note the somewhat less massive bill compared to the males shown above (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[St. Helens, TAS, September 2024]

Near-lateral view of a female Pacific Gull (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[St. Helens, TAS, September 2024]

Near-lateral view of a female Pacific Gull looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[St. Helens, TAS, September 2024]

Near-lateral view of a female Pacific Gull looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[St. Helens, TAS, September 2024]

Sex unknown

Near-frontal view of a Pacific Gull (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Lakes Entrance, East Gippsland, VIC, June 2017]

Near-lateral view of a Pacific Gull preparing for take-off (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Lakes Entrance, East Gippsland, VIC, June 2017]

Close-up lateral view of a Pacific Gull (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Adventure Bay, Bruny Island, TAS, April 2021]

Lateral view of a Pacific Gull (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Lakes Entrance, East Gippsland, VIC, August 2017]

Lateral view of a Pacific Gull resting on a beach (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Lakes Entrance, East Gippsland, VIC, June 2017]

Near-dorsal view of a Pacific Gull (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Adventure Bay, Bruny Island, TAS, April 2021]

Pacific Gull touching down, with a good view of its upperwing pattern (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Lakes Entrance, East Gippsland, VIC, August 2017]

Near-lateral view of an adult Pacific Gull in flight; note the diagnostic black subterminal band on the uppertail, which distinguishes this species from the similar Kelp Gull (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Bruny Island, TAS, February 2016]

Pacific Gull in flight, with a clear view of its underwing pattern (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Lakes Entrance, East Gippsland, VIC, June 2017]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Lateral view of a second-year Pacific Gull (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Adventure Bay, Bruny Island, TAS, April 2021]

Lateral view of a second-year Pacific Gull (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Adventure Bay, Bruny Island, TAS, April 2021]

Lateral view of a first-year Pacific Gull snoozing on a beach (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Lakes Entrance, East Gippsland, VIC, August 2017]

Lateral view of a first-year Pacific Gull (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Lakes Entrance, East Gippsland, VIC, August 2017]

Lateral view of a first-year Pacific Gull (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Adventure Bay, Bruny Island, TAS, April 2021]

Frontal view of a second-year immature Pacific Gull in flight (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Red Bluff, Lake Tyers, East Gippsland, VIC, August 2018]

Near-lateral view of a first-year Pacific Gull in flight (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Cape Banks, Sydney, NSW, July 2015]

Lateral view of a first-year Pacific Gull in flight (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Cape Banks, Sydney, NSW, July 2015]

Lateral view of a first-year immature Pacific Gull in flight (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Red Bluff, Lake Tyers, East Gippsland, VIC, August 2018]

Lateral view of a first-year immature Pacific Gull in flight (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Red Bluff, Lake Tyers, East Gippsland, VIC, August 2018]

Dorsal view of a first-year immature Pacific Gull in flight (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Red Bluff, Lake Tyers, East Gippsland, VIC, August 2018]

Frontal view of a juvenile Pacific Gull (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Adventure Bay, Bruny Island, TAS, April 2021]

Near-frontal view of a juvenile Pacific Gull (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Adventure Bay, Bruny Island, TAS, April 2021]

Race "georgii"

ADULT

PAIR

Lateral view of a pair of Pacific Gulls, male in front - note the massive bill (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Hamelin Bay, Augusta, Margaret River, WA, April 2019]

Sex unknown

Frontal view of a Pacific Gull (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Hamelin Bay, Augusta, Margaret River, WA, April 2019]

Frontal view of an adult Pacific Gull approaching the carcass of an Estuary Cobbler (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Albany, WA, January 2015]

Near-frontal view of a Pacific Gull (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Albany, WA, January 2015]

Near-lateral view of a Pacific Gull (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Hamelin Bay, Augusta, Margaret River, WA, April 2019]

Lateral view of a Pacific Gull (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Hamelin Bay, Augusta, Margaret River, WA, April 2019]

Lateral view of a Pacific Gull (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Hamelin Bay, Augusta, Margaret River, WA, April 2019]

Lateral view of a Pacific Gull (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Hamelin Bay, Augusta, Margaret River, WA, April 2019]

Lateral view of a Pacific Gull (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Hamelin Bay, Augusta, Margaret River, WA, April 2019]

Lateral view of a Pacific Gull (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Hamelin Bay, Augusta, Margaret River, WA, April 2019]

Lateral view of a Pacific Gull; this photo shows the characteristic black subterminal band on the tail
(photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Albany, WA, January 2015]

Lateral view of a Pacific Gull; one can see clearly the characteristic white tertial crescent
(photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Cheynes Beach, Albany, WA, June 2020]

Lateral view of a preening Pacific Gull; one can see clearly the characteristic white tertial crescent
(photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Cheynes Beach, Albany, WA, June 2020]

Lateral view of a Pacific Gull floating on water (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Albany, WA, January 2015]

Lateral view of a Pacific Gull snoozing on the beach (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Baudins Beach, Kangaroo Island, SA, March 2016]

Near-dorsal view of a Pacific Gull (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Hamelin Bay, Augusta, Margaret River, WA, April 2019]

Near-dorsal view of a Pacific Gull (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Baudins Beach, Kangaroo Island, SA, March 2016]

Dorsal view of a Pacific Gull (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Albany, WA, January 2015]

Direct size comparison between a Pacific Gull, right, and a Silver Gull, left (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Albany, WA, January 2015]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Lateral view of a third-year Pacific Gull (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Hamelin Bay, Augusta, Margaret River, WA, April 2019]

Lateral view of a third-year Pacific Gull (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Hamelin Bay, Augusta, Margaret River, WA, April 2019]

Near-dorsal view of a third-year Pacific Gull (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Hamelin Bay, Augusta, Margaret River, WA, April 2019]

Near-lateral view of a third-year(?) Pacific Gull; note that this bird has very little mottling in its white parts, but still shows juvenile wing feathers (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Quindalup beach, WA, January 2017]

Near-frontal view of a first-year Pacific Gull (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Hamelin Bay, Augusta, Margaret River, WA, April 2019]

Near-lateral view of a first-year Pacific Gull (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Hamelin Bay, Augusta, Margaret River, WA, April 2019]

Lateral view of a first-year Pacific Gull (photo courtesy of D. Dyer)
[Cervantes, WA, November 2020]

Lateral view of an adult, right, and a first-year Pacific Gull (photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Streaky Bay, SA, August 2019]

Lateral view of a first-year Pacific Gull being hassled by a Silver Gull (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Streaky Bay, SA, January 2017]

Close-up portrait of a juvenile Pacific Gull (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Baudins Beach, Kangaroo Island, SA, March 2016]

Frontal view of a juvenile Pacific Gull; note the nearly all-black bill (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Baudins Beach, Kangaroo Island, SA, March 2016]

Near-lateral view of a juvenile Pacific Gull (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Baudins Beach, Kangaroo Island, SA, March 2016]

Lateral view of a juvenile Pacific Gull (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Baudins Beach, Kangaroo Island, SA, March 2016]

Near-dorsal view of a juvenile Pacific Gull (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Baudins Beach, Kangaroo Island, SA, March 2016]

Juvenile Pacific Gull preening (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Baudins Beach, Kangaroo Island, SA, March 2016]

Near-dorsal view of a juvenile Pacific Gull in flight (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Baudins Beach, Kangaroo Island, SA, March 2016]

Behaviour

Social behaviour: ?

Mobility: Sedentary/dispersive

Elementary unit: Solitary/pair

Food, Diet

Pacific Gulls specialise in catching shellfish and molluscs, which they carry up to about 15 m height, before dropping them onto rocks to crack the hard shell.

Lateral view of a Pacific Gull tearing away at the soft underside of an Estuary Cobbler (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Albany, WA, January 2015]

This Pacific Gull knows that one can get better purchase on the fish by standing on it (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Albany, WA, January 2015]

Here the Pacific Gull's red gape is clearly visible (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Albany, WA, January 2015]

Young Pacific Gull with the remnants of a crustacean (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[St. Kilda, SA, October 2022]

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