Pacific Gull

Larus pacificus

Foreshore, Black Rock, S Vic IMG_9742 20230621 - pacificus adult: red tip to yellow bill, white iris, lores sharply pointed.
CLICK for another there on 20210718.

Notes: Huge gull w. massive red-tipped bill. Tail black sub-terminal band, narrow white trailing
edge only. Ssp pacificus iris white, orbital ring yellow; loral point sharp. Ssp georgii iris dark,
orbital ring red; loral point blunt. Cf Kelp Gull. Juvenile mainly dark brown w. black bill.
Immature stages over 4 years. Forages mainly on shell-fish & crabs on sandy or rocky shores.

Range from Morcombe & Stewart©(modified)
Yellow Rock Beach, S King Island, Tas IMG_1482 20211216 - pacificus attacking an immature Silver Gull. Stewarts Bay, Port Arthur, SE Tas IMG_4132 20210604 - pacificus adult in flight. CLICK for another: foreshore, Black Rock,
S Vic 20210710. Black Rock, S Vic IMG_4892 20200117 - pacificus ~4thyr immature: traces of brown mottling. CLICK for a ~3rdyr immature:
20211228. Foreshore, Beaumaris, Melbourne, S Vic IMG_0378 20210817 - pacificus adult w. 2ndyr immature. CLICK for an older
immature there: 20230523. Ricketts Point, Beaumaris, Melbourne, S Vic IMG_5483 20230718 - pacificus 1styr immature: pale base to black-tipped bill.
CLICK for another on foreshore, Black Rock, S Vic 20211228. Stewarts Bay, Port Arthur, SE Tas IMG_4110 20210604 - pacificus juvenile: black bill, dark eye. CLICK for another a little
older: foreshore, Black Rock, S Vic 20230709. Jurien Bay, SW WA IMG_7165 20181012 - georgii adult. Note lores blunt/rounded, not sharp as for pacificus.
CLICK for closeup of face: dark iris, red orbital ring for georgii. Windy Harbour, SW WA IMG_8928 20181022 - georgii adult Eagle Bluff Inlet, Peron Peninsula, W WA IMG_6207 20181004 - georgii 2ndyr immature: black tip to yellowish bill.
CLICK for another view. 90 mile Beach, SE Vic MVI_5828 20100709 - pacificus 2ndyr immature: yellowish bill w. black tip. Foreshore, Beaumaris, Melbourne, S Vic IMG_0747 20210909 - pacificus adult breaking up a sea urchin and eating it. Foreshore, Beaumaris, Melbourne, S Vic IMG_0824 20210909 - pacificus adult having a bit of a wash