Lesser Black-backed Gull
Larus fuscus
The Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) is a common skimmers, noddies, terns, and gull found in 172 countries, weighing about 762 g. The lesser black-backed gull is a large gull that breeds on the Atlantic and Arctic coasts of Europe.
About the Lesser Black-backed Gull
The lesser black-backed gull is a large gull that breeds on the Atlantic and Arctic coasts of Europe. It is migratory, wintering from the British Isles south to West Africa. However, it has increased dramatically in North America, especially along the east coast. Formerly just a winter visitor to North America, it now occurs in large numbers some winters and birds are recorded year-round. However, there is serious concern about decline in many parts of its range. The species is on the UK Amber List because the UK is home to 40 per cent of the European population and more than half of these are found at fewer than ten breeding sites.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The lesser black-backed gull is smaller than the European herring gull. The taxonomy of the herring gull / lesser black-backed gull complex is complicated; different authorities recognise between two and eight species. This group has a ring species distribution around the Northern Hemisphere. Differences between adjacent forms in this ring are fairly small, but by the time the circuit is completed, the end members, herring gull and lesser black-backed gull, are clearly different species.
What the Lesser Black-backed Gull sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Australia, Luxembourg, Ecuador, Mali, Seychelles, El Salvador, St. Barthélemy, U.S. Virgin Islands, Benin, Guinea-Bissau, Malawi, Mayotte, Brazil.
When to see it
The Lesser Black-backed Gull can be seen all year round, with peak activity in July. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Lesser Black-backed Gull?
- The lesser black-backed gull is smaller than the European herring gull. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Lesser Black-backed Gull?
- The Lesser Black-backed Gull is a large sized bird weighing about 762 g.
- Where can you see a Lesser Black-backed Gull?
- The Lesser Black-backed Gull occurs in 172 countries, including Belgium, France, the United Kingdom, Spain and the Netherlands.
- What does a Lesser Black-backed Gull sound like?
- You can listen to 3 field recordings of the Lesser Black-backed Gull on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Lesser Black-backed Gull?
- The Lesser Black-backed Gull is most easily confused with the European Herring Gull, the American Herring Gull and the Great Black-backed Gull.
- Is the Lesser Black-backed Gull endangered?
- The Lesser Black-backed Gull is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Lesser Black-backed Gull for real
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