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Story: Gulls, terns and skuas

Black-backed gull raiding a nest

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Black-backed gulls are opportunistic feeders, and unprotected chicks from a nearby red-billed gull colony are easy prey. The parents’ noisy resistance does not intimidate the marauders.

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Natural History New Zealand

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How to cite this page

Gerard Hutching, Gulls, terns and skuas – Black-backed gulls, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/video/6125/black-backed-gull-raiding-a-nest (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Gerard Hutching, published 2 March 2009.