- Lifespan
- 25–30 years in the wild, occasionally longer
- Size & Weight
- 64–78 cm, wingspan 150–165 cm; 1.3–2.0 kg
- Habitat
- Coastal cliffs, rocky islands, and occasionally inland lakes; breeds on remote islands and headlands with minimal disturbance.
- UK Distribution
- Resident year-round around much of the UK coast, with populations concentrated in Scotland, northern England, Wales, and south-west England; numbers augmented in winter by continental immigrants.
- Diet
- Highly opportunistic omnivore and scavenger; feeds on fish, crustaceans, seabirds, eggs, small mammals, and discarded refuse at landfills and fisheries.
- Prey
- Fish (especially flatfish), auks, other gulls, rabbits, rats, bird eggs, and offal from fishing vessels
- Predators
- Eggs and chicks preyed upon by foxes, mink, and corvids; adults rarely predated due to large size, though occasionally taken by white-tailed eagles
- Mating Season
- March to August, with peak activity April to June
- Breeding
- Clutch of 2–3 eggs; incubation period 26–29 days; fledging at 7–8 weeks; single brood per year; forms loose colonies and defends territories aggressively
- Behaviour
- Highly intelligent, adaptable, and increasingly bold around human settlements. Dominant and aggressive in interactions with other gull species and at feeding sites. Forms stable pair bonds and exhibits strong site fidelity, returning to natal colonies year after year.