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Lesser Black-backed Gull

Larus fuscus

Least Concern
This adaptable seabird thrives on both coasts and urban landscapes, known for its distinctive dark wings and yellow legs.
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Visual Identification

Appearance

The Lesser Black-backed Gull is a large seabird with a distinctive dark grey to black back and wings, contrasting with its white head, neck, and underparts. Its yellow legs and bill with a red spot near the tip are key identifying features.

Adults display bright white heads in summer, while winter plumage shows light brown streaking. Juveniles have mottled brown plumage, gradually acquiring adult colouration over four years.

Males and females are alike in size and appearance.

Size

Length

52cm to 64cm

Wingspan

135cm to 155cm

Weight

550g to 1000g

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Grey Black White

Beak Colour

Yellow Red

Leg Colour

Yellow

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Lesser Black-backed Gull is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Lesser Black-backed Gull is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Lesser Black-backed Gull can be found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Lesser Black-backed Gull can be found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Lesser Black-backed Gull can be found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Lesser Black-backed Gull is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Lesser Black-backed Gull is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Lesser Black-backed Gull is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Lesser Black-backed Gull is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Lesser Black-backed Gull is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Lesser Black-backed Gull is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Lesser Black-backed Gull is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Lesser Black-backed Gulls primarily inhabit coastal areas, including rocky shores, estuaries, and harbours. They breed across Northern Europe and winter along the coasts of Western Europe, the Mediterranean, and parts of Africa.

In the UK, they are common year-round, with increasing numbers nesting in urban areas. During winter, they can be found along the eastern coast of North America, from Newfoundland to Florida.

Elevation Range

Sea level to 1,000 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Subarctic, Subtropical

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Lesser Black-backed Gull. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

  • Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
  • Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
  • This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

  • More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
  • How birds move around during different seasons
© 2024 - Birdfact
Resident
Breeding
Non-breeding
Passage
Vagrant

Distribution by Region

Species that can be found in the area throughout the year
Algeria Angola Anguilla Antigua and Barbuda Aruba Australia Bahrain Barbados Belgium Benin Bermuda Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Burkina Faso Burundi Cameroon Canada Cape Verde Central African Republic Chad Comoros Congo Côte D'Ivoire Czech Republic Democratic Republic of the Congo Denmark Djibouti Dominica Egypt Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faroe Islands Finland France French Guiana Gabon Gambia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Guadeloupe Guinea Guinea-Bissau Iran Iraq Ireland Israel Jordan Kenya Kuwait Lebanon Liberia Libya Malawi Mali Martinique Mauritania Mexico Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Netherlands Niger Nigeria Norway Oman Palestine Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Romania Russia Rwanda Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Sierra Leone Somalia South Africa Spain Sudan Syria Tanzania The United Kingdom Togo Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates Venezuela Western Sahara Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe
Species that are present in the area during their breeding season
Greenland Iceland Kyrgyzstan Mongolia Russia Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands Sweden Uzbekistan
Species that are present in the area outside their breeding season
Albania Austria Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Hungary India Italy Latvia Lithuania Macedonia Malta Qatar Slovakia Slovenia Switzerland Turkey United States of America
Species that pass through the area during migration
Belarus South Sudan Turkmenistan
Species that appear infrequently (rare) and unpredictably outside their normal range
Afghanistan Argentina Cuba Dominican Republic Ecuador Georgia Kazakhstan Luxembourg Namibia Panama Saint Pierre and Miquelon Seychelles Sri Lanka The Bahamas US Virgin Islands

Behaviour and Ecology

Bird Attributes

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Bird Attributes Explained

Our bird attributes system rates various aspects of a bird's capabilities on a scale of 0-100, based on data from field observations, scientific studies, and expert knowledge.

Attribute Categories:
  • Agility: Manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
  • Strength: Physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
  • Adaptability: Ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
  • Aggressiveness: Territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
  • Endurance: Stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

Understanding the Ratings:

  • 0-20: Very Low
  • 21-40: Low
  • 41-60: Average
  • 61-80: High
  • 81-100: Very High

Remember, these attributes are relative to other bird species and don't necessarily indicate superiority.

Tap the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Agility 85

Agility

Reflects the bird's manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.

The Lesser Black-backed Gull demonstrates high agility in flight, adeptly manoeuvring to catch prey and navigate coastal winds. Their ability to perform complex aerial displays during courtship further showcases their impressive agility.

Strength 70

Strength

Indicates the bird's physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.

With a robust build and the capacity to carry prey items, these gulls exhibit considerable strength. Their ability to defend territories and engage in food-stealing behaviour from other birds indicates a good level of physical power.

Adaptability 95

Adaptability

Represents the bird's ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.

Exceptionally adaptable, Lesser Black-backed Gulls thrive in diverse environments from coastal areas to urban settings. Their varied diet and ability to nest on both natural and man-made structures demonstrate remarkable adaptability.

Aggressiveness 80

Aggressiveness

Measures the bird's territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.

These gulls display significant aggression, particularly during breeding season and when defending food sources. Their tendency to steal food from other birds and their bold behaviour around humans in urban areas reflect their aggressive nature.

Endurance 90

Endurance

Reflects the bird's stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

Lesser Black-backed Gulls exhibit outstanding endurance, capable of long-distance migrations exceeding 5,000 km. Their ability to withstand diverse climates and their long lifespan of up to 32 years in the wild are testament to their exceptional endurance.

Diet

Lesser Black-backed Gulls have a varied diet that includes fish, marine invertebrates, and terrestrial insects. They are also known to eat the eggs and chicks of other birds, small mammals, and human food waste. Their adaptable feeding habits contribute to their success in urban environments.

Behaviour

Lesser Black-backed Gulls are highly adaptable and opportunistic. They often follow fishing boats to scavenge discards and are known to steal food from other birds.

These gulls form large, noisy colonies during the breeding season, displaying complex social behaviours, including elaborate courtship rituals.

Vocalisation

Lesser Black-backed Gulls have a variety of vocalisations. Their most common call is a harsh, laughing 'kyow-kyow-kyow'. During courtship, they produce a softer 'mew' sound. When alarmed, they emit a sharp, high-pitched 'kee-yah' that serves as a warning to the colony.

Nesting & Breeding

Breeding season for Lesser Black-backed Gulls typically begins in April. They form monogamous pairs and engage in elaborate courtship displays, including head-tossing and mew-calling.

Nests are built on the ground or on flat rooftops, constructed from grass, seaweed, and other available materials. Females lay 2-3 eggs, which are olive brown with dark splotches.

Both parents incubate the eggs for about 25 days. Chicks fledge after 35-40 days but may remain dependent on their parents for several weeks.

Conservation and Status

Global Conservation Status

Least Concern [1]

While currently listed as Least Concern, Lesser Black-backed Gulls face threats from habitat loss, pollution, and climate change. Conservation efforts focus on protecting breeding sites and managing urban populations to reduce conflicts with humans.

Population Data

Global Population Estimate

940,000 - 2,070,000 individuals [2]

Global Population Trend

[3]

Trend data may be uncertain or fluctuating

Birdwatching Tips

  • Look for them near coastal areas, especially around harbours and estuaries
  • Observe their distinctive dark grey to black back to differentiate them from other gull species
  • Listen for their harsh, laughing call, especially in breeding colonies
  • In the UK, watch for them inland, as they increasingly nest on urban rooftops

Additional Information

Quick Facts

Other names:

Baltic Gull

Family:

Laridae

Average Lifespan

20 to 32 years

Predators

Adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls have few natural predators, but eggs and chicks are vulnerable to large raptors, foxes, and rats.

Did You Know?

  1. Lesser Black-backed Gulls can live for over 30 years in the wild.
  2. They are capable of drinking both fresh and salt water.
  3. Some individuals migrate over 7,000 km (4,350 miles) between breeding and wintering grounds.

References

  1. 1

    website: BirdLife International. 2019. Larus fuscus (errata version published in 2022). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T22694373A211737029.

    View source
  2. 2 3

    report, 2015: Wetlands International

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