Lesser Black-backed Gull
Larus fuscus
小黑背银鸥
Introduction
This is a large gull of the genus Larus. It breeds on Atlantic and Arctic coasts of Europe, migrating south to winter from the British Isles to West Africa. The species has expanded dramatically in North America, particularly along the east coast, transitioning from a winter visitor to occurring year-round in large numbers. Five subspecies are currently recognized. Conservation concern exists due to significant population declines; the species holds UK Amber List status because the UK supports 40% of the European population, with more than half of these concentrated at fewer than ten breeding sites.
Description
This gull is smaller than the European herring gull, measuring 51-64 cm in length with a wingspan of 124-150 cm and weighing 452-1,100 g. Males average 824 g and are slightly larger than females at 708 g. Adults have black or dark grey wings and back depending on subspecies, with a yellow bill featuring a red spot that triggers feeding responses in young. The head appears greyer in winter. Wing chord measures 38-45 cm, bill 4.2-5.8 cm, and tarsus 5.2-6.9 cm. Adults undergo a complete annual moult beginning May-August, sometimes extending to November, with a partial prebreeding moult occurring January-April. Juveniles have scaly black-brown upperparts and a neat wing pattern, requiring four years to reach maturity.
Identification
The great black-backed gull is the primary confusion species; this species is much smaller with a slimmer build, yellow legs (not pinkish), and smaller white mirrors at the wing tips. Adults have black or dark grey wings and back, with a greyer winter head unlike the great black-backed gull. Juvenile identification from herring gulls is most reliably achieved by the more solidly dark, unbarred tertial feathers. The call is a laughing cry similar to the herring gull but with a distinctly deeper pitch.
Distribution & Habitat
The species breeds on Atlantic and Arctic coasts of Europe, expanding westwards to colonize Greenland in the 1980s. It has not yet bred in the United States, though hybrid pairs with American herring gulls have been recorded twice. Breeding occurs colonially on coastal cliffs and lake margins, with three eggs normally laid. The species breeds in urban environments in some cities, often alongside herring gulls. Winter range extends from the British Isles south to West Africa. North American occurrence has increased dramatically, especially along the east coast, with birds now recorded year-round rather than solely as winter visitors.
Behavior & Ecology
Diet is omnivorous, including fish, insects, crustaceans, worms, starfish, molluscs, seeds, berries, small mammals, eggs, chicks, scraps, offal, and carrion. The species breeds colonially on the ground or cliff ledges, making lined nests. Normal clutch size is three eggs. Urban nesting occurs in some cities in association with herring gulls. The call is a characteristic laughing cry, deeper in pitch than that of the herring gull.
Conservation
The species holds UK Amber List status due to significant conservation concern. The UK supports 40% of the European population, with more than half of these breeding birds concentrated at fewer than ten breeding sites. Serious population declines have been documented across many parts of the range, prompting ongoing monitoring and habitat protection efforts.
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Taxonomy
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Family
- Laridae
- Genus
- Larus
- eBird Code
- lbbgul
Vocalizations
Subspecies (5)
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Larus fuscus barabensis
breeds steppes of west-central Asia from southeastern Ural Mountains to western Siberia and northern Kazakhstan; winters to coasts of Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, and Arabian Sea
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Larus fuscus fuscus
breeds northern Norway eastward to White Sea (northwestern Russia); winters to Africa and southwestern Asia
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Larus fuscus graellsii
breeds southwestern Greenland, Iceland, Faroe Islands, and western Europe to northern Iberian Peninsula; winters southwestern Europe and western Africa, and eastern USA
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Larus fuscus heuglini
breeds tundra from Kola Peninsula (northwestern Russia) to Yamal Peninsula (north-central Siberia); winters from Middle East southward to east Africa and eastward to India, eastern China, and South Korea
-
Larus fuscus intermedius
breeds Denmark to western Norway; winters to western Africa
Data Sources
CBR Notes: 中文名由小黑背银鸥恢复为小黑背鸥
Species description from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Bird images and sounds sourced from GBIF, contributed by citizen scientists worldwide under Creative Commons licenses.
Taxonomy data from AviList 2025.