Black-Billed Gull (Larus bulleri)

Endemic.

 

The black-billed gull breeds mainly in the South Island but winters on the coasts of both the North and South Islands.

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Superficially very similar to the red-billed gull in size, shape, and colouring, the black-billed gull is built on more slender lines. It has a white body, its wings being grey with black at the very tips (it has less black than a red-billed gull). The bill and legs are black (there may be some orange or red showing on the legs). As a juvenile the legs and beak are pale pink, shading to bright red in the second year and then becoming black after that. Immature birds also have brownish spots on the wings; they can be mistaken for adult red-billed gulls.