Herring Gulls (Larus argentatus) and Great Black-backed Gulls (Larus marinus) are familiar to anyone who has ever visited the Atlantic Ocean in New England. Their noisy calls, large size, and abundance make them stand out as the conspicuous "sea gulls" of beaches, marinas, towns, and garbage dumps.
Great Black-backed Gulls are among the largest seabirds found on the East Coast. Great Black-backed Gulls have benefited greatly from humans and have increased to great numbers. As a result, they now breed in areas where they formerly did not, and cause great pressure on other seabird species. Although they are usually passive, in some instances they can be aggressive and dangerous to smaller seabirds on Eastern Egg Rock.