Photo: JJ Harrison (https://www.jjharrison.com.au/) / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Shorebirds

Pacific Gull

Larus pacificus

Pacific Gull (Larus pacificus) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of Australia & Oceania.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 14 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Australia Birds of New South Wales Birds of Queensland Birds of South Australia Birds of Tasmania Birds of Victoria Birds of Western Australia

By family

Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Australia Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of New South Wales Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Queensland Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of South Australia Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Tasmania Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Victoria Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Western Australia

See what's near you right now

The Pacific Gull (Larus pacificus) is a member of the Laridae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 1.3 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Charadriiformes
Family Laridae Gulls, Terns, Skimmers
Genus Larus
Species pacificus

Where it lives

Coasts of southwest to southeastern Australia and Tasmania

Australia & Oceania

Quick facts

Weight: 1.3 kg
Diet: Aquatic hunters
Family: Laridae
Order: Charadriiformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Least Concern

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Pacific Gull hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Behaviour

A bird of coastal habitats, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.

Migration

The Pacific Gull is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.

The Pacific Gull (Larus pacificus) belongs to the Laridae family of the order Charadriiformes. It is found across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU coasts of sw to se Australia and Tasmania.

It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.3 kg, with a wing length of about 44.4 cm and a tail of around 17.7 cm.

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

The species has a mapped global range of roughly 392,000 km².

Songs & calls

Pacific Gull — Call

Recorded by Greg McLachlan Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Pacific Gull?

The Pacific Gull is a very large bird that weighs around 1.3 kg.

Where does the Pacific Gull live?

The Pacific Gull is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU coasts of sw to se Australia and Tasmania, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the Pacific Gull belong to?

The Pacific Gull (Larus pacificus) belongs to the Laridae family, in the order Charadriiformes.

What does the Pacific Gull eat?

The Pacific Gull hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Does the Pacific Gull migrate?

The Pacific Gull is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.

Is the Pacific Gull endangered?

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

What sound does the Pacific Gull make?

1 real field recording of the Pacific Gull — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Pacific Gull's range?

The Pacific Gull has a mapped global range of about 392,000 km².