The Great Black-backed Gull has a dark grey to black back and wings, yellow bill and pink legs.
The similar looking but smaller Lesser Black-backed Gull is easily identified by its yellow legs.

As a rule, adult gulls attain their adult plumage and reach sexual maturity in two to five years, depending on the species.
Juvenile gulls do not look like their parents, but instead have a distinctive streaked brown plumage.
Over the years their plumage changes from brown to, usually, white or white-blue.
In general, males average larger than females and have slightly to distinctly bigger bills and larger heads.
The Great Black-backed Gull attains adult plumage at an average age of four to five years.

Brooklyn Bridge area, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA, 27 February 2007