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10

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 Weight: 0.9-1.8 kg

Australia: Family Group 10 Family Group 10 Table Brown Skua South Polar Skua Arctic Jaeger Pomarine Jaeger Long-tailed Jaeger Pacific Gull Kelp Gull Silver Gull Crested Tern Lesser Crested Tern Caspian Tern Gull-billed Tern White-fronted Tern Black-naped Tern Roseate Tern Common Tern Little Tern Fairy Tern Whiskered Tern White-winged Black Tern Grey Ternlet White Tern Sooty Tern Bridled Tern Aleutian Tern Common Noddy Black Noddy Thumbnails page Family group table Index of bird names Habitat pages Key plants Birds home page

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 secondaris 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 red tip. The legs and feet are yellow. The irises are white. 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. Note that Pacific Gulls at the north-western end of their range have darker irises than those found along the South coast. Twitcher's tip Compared to Kelp Gulls, the Pacific Gull is bigger and has a much 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 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. 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

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

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 two Pacific Gulls (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Hamelin Bay, Augusta, Margaret River, WA, April 2019]

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]

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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Disclaimer: Comments are always welcome. We give no guarantee that the information presented on these pages is always correct or up-to-date. External links are marked as such and we take no responsibility for the contents of external pages. All images on this site are protected by copyright & used by permission of the respective owners. If you wish to reproduce them or any of the material presented on this web site, please contact us: We hereby acknowledge the original custodians of the land which is described on these pages, including the Gomeroi/Gamilaraay people of the North-west Slopes and Plains of NSW, and the traditional owners of other lands and nations within this country. We acknowledge elders past, present and emerging. Sovereignty was never ceded.          Last updated: Sun, 30 October 2022, 22:29 +00:00