Which ID corresponds to the great black-backed gull?

• A. Large gull, pink legs, yellow bill with red spot
• B. Very large, black back, pink legs
• C. Dark seabird, long neck, orange bill
• D. White head and tail, large raptor

Answer: (B)

Size, back color, and leg color are key clues when identifying gulls in Maine. The great black-backed gull is the largest gull you’ll see here, and adults show a dark (blackish) back paired with pink legs. That combination—very large body, dark back, pink legs—is the most distinctive and matches this species. The other descriptions either don’t mention the distinctive back color and size, or describe birds that don’t fit gull anatomy (such as a raptor-like bird), so they’re less reliable for identifying the great black-backed gull.