Australia
SpeciesField NotesLog inDownload

Field notes

Stay in the loop

Get updates, new features, and Australian birding news.

By subscribing, I agree to receive BirdUp Australia updates, new features, and Australian birding news.

Australia
Download for iOSDownload for AndroidSpeciesField NotesRSSNewsletterBrandPrivacyTerms

BirdUp Australia Pty Ltd © 2026. Made in Australia for Australian birders.

  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Laridae
  4. ›
  5. Larus
  6. ›
  7. Pacific Gull
Pacific Gull
Photo · (c) Donald Davesne, some rights reserved (CC BY)

BirdUp · Species

Pacific Gull

Larus pacificusLatham, 1801

Updated 21 March 2026

Origin: Endemic
Order
CHARADRIIFORMES
Family
Laridae
Genus
Larus

At a glance

The Pacific Gull is a large bird, about 50–67 cm long, endemic to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size
50–67 cm
Origin
Endemic
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Endemic
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Behaviour
  • Gallery

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does a Pacific Gull look like?

The Pacific Gull is a large bird, about 50–67 cm long and weighing 900–1800 g.

The Pacific gull is a gull, native to the coasts of Australia. It is moderately common in a band along the coast between Carnarvon, Western Australia, in the west, and Sydney in the east, as well as Tasmania and other islands off the continent's southern coast. It has, however, become scarce in some parts of the south-east, as a result of competition from the kelp gull.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
50–67 cm
Weight
900–1800 g
Wingspan
137 cm

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

03 · When

When to look

When can you see a Pacific Gull?

The Pacific Gull is present across its Australian range year-round, so it can be seen in any month.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does a Pacific Gull eat?

The Pacific Gull feeds on terrestrial vertebrates, carrion, intertidal invertebrates and fish/invertebrates, usually foraging in pairs or flocks or alone.

06 · Gallery

Plumage up close

6 photos

The BirdUp app

Log your next Pacific Gull in the field

A pocket field journal for 850+ Australian birds. Offline-first, smart ID, and a lifelist that travels with you.

Get the appRead field notes
Spotted something wrong on this page? Report incorrect info

02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Pacific Gull live in Australia?

The Pacific Gull is endemic to Australia, recorded across 41 of Australia’s bioregions, with a core range spanning coasts of south-west to south-east Australia and Tasmania.

BreedingCoasts of south-west to south-east Australia and Tasmania

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Resident
  • Vagrant

8 regions recorded