Lesser Black-backed Gull

This species breeds colonially on coasts and lakes, making a lined nest on the ground or cliff. Normally, three eggs are laid. In some cities the species nests within the urban environment, often in association with Herring Gulls.

The Lesser Black-backed Gull is classified as Least Concern. Does not qualify for a more at risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category.

Browse: Home / Birding / Intermedius Lesser Black-backed Gull in Miami Intermedius Lesser Black-backed Gull in Miami - By Charlie • August 23, 2008 • 4 comments I was flicking through Sibley (not as painful as it may sound, by the way) in a recent idle moment and came upon the description of Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus which concludes with the paragraph, “Nearly all North American records are of the paler mantled Britain/Iceland population . More

Lesser Black-backed Gull, (Larus fuscus), Katherine Landing, Mohave County These photos of an immature dark mantled gull were taken at Katherine Landing on Lake Mohave on February 25th in the late afternoon by Bill Grossi. The bird posed quite an identification challenge. Here is the original description by Bill Grossi: The bird I saw was at least as large as the nearby Herring Gulls. The mantle and scapulars are dark gray, which looked almost black in the strong light. More

The Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) is a large gull which breeds on the Atlantic coasts of Europe. It is migratory, wintering from the British Isles south to West Africa. It is also a regular winter visitor to the east coast of North America, probably from the breeding population in Iceland. This species breeds colonially on coasts and lakes, making a lined nest on the ground or cliff. Normally, three eggs are laid. More

Lesser Black-backed Gull at Lake Cunningham, San Jose This morning I decided to take my son, Jeff down to Lake Cunningham in San Jose to look for the immature Lesser Black-backed Gull which had been found there on Friday by Steve Rottenborn. We arrived at mid-morning to find no other birders present. More

Lesser Black-backed Gull returning to the roosting area just east of the parking lot for the Alviso Marina where it had been seen in past years and a more detailed message was left by Donna Heim. I decided to try for the bird in the afternoon, but when I arrived, several birders were just leaving. The word was that the gull was not present. The juvenile Sabine More

In May 2007, a Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) was observed at a nest with a Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) on Appledore Island, Maine. This record represents the second observation of breeding by a Lesser Black-backed Gull in North America (outside of Greenland) and the first record for the Atlantic coast of North America (Ellis et al. 2008). More

note 2: a project on Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls that have been treated for botulism. note 3: an average of 35 birds per year is estimated, but during 2000 some 64 birds were released. note 4: a good scheme descriptor for the Rehabilitation Centre: Gower Bird Hospital, Valetta, Sandy Lane, Pennard, Swansea, SA3 2EW.tel: 01792 371630 fax: 01792 371412 ; e-mail: simon@gowerbirdhospital.org.uk ; website: www.gowerbirdhospital.org.uk. More

The Lesser Black-backed Gull is native to numerous countries throughout the world. The range of this bird species is impressive, reaching up to 10 million square kilometers. The population of the Lesser Black-backed Gull is estimated at around 750,000 individual birds. The prior rating for the Lesser Black-backed Gull was Lower Risk. In 2004, this rating was downgraded to Least Concern as a result of the size of the bird's population and range. More

The Lesser Black-backed Gull is very slightly smaller than the Herring Gull, but has longer legs and a thinner bill. The adult's back is dark grey as are the wings, which have white edges and black tips with white spots. The head and body are white in the summer, but the head is streaked with grey in the winter. The bill is yellow with a red spot near the tip and the eye is yellow with a red orbital ring. More

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) breeding on east coast of USA August 2009 The Lesser and his Herring Gull mate produced two chicks this year, which we banded in early July. Their field-readable bands are green with white lettering with the following codes: F04 and F06. During our most recent visit to Appledore, the two chicks were still alive and observed near their nest on 21 August. More

Common across Europe, the Lesser Black-backed Gull is an uncommon, but regular visitor to eastern North America. Its occurrence on this continent increased dramatically over the last third of the 20th century. More

Lesser black-backed gulls in flight Lesser black-backed gulls are easily mistaken for their 'greater' counterparts. They often share nesting colonies with herring gulls, competing with them for food and nest sites. What do they sound like? - 1. More

Lesser Black-backed Gull is a common winter visitor to the region and at most roosts it outnumbers the Herring Gull by a considerable margin. Numbers wintering in the region were very low prior to the late 1950s but then increased rapidly to reach a total of around 10000 by the late 1960s and 25000 - 30000 by the mid 1970s. 12000 were estimated in the roost at Draycote Water in December 1974. More

Lesser Black-backed Gull has paired with a female Yellow-legged Gull. Some birds have the upper-parts a shade of grey paler than normally seen in LBBG, and when this is combined with other features as an orange orbital ring, one may expect some Herring Gull influences. Location of breeding As can be seen in the images, adult birds are very strict in choosing a place in the colony. Research in Herring Gulls (in the Netherlands by H. More

Lesser Black-backed Gulls in Markham, October 2005 Scroll down for four photos. 1. Lesser Black-backed Gull in definitive prebasic molt with several old retained primaries not yet molted, 4 October 2005 2. Lesser Black-backed Gull in definitive prebasic molt with several old retained primaries not yet molted. Red spot on lower mandible extends onto the upper mandible. 4 October 3005. 3. More

Lesser Black-backed Gull in Markham This dark-mantled gull was at Trib C in Markham on 3 July 2005. Its size was about the same as an average Herring Gull. It had pale pinkish legs and a thick black bill. Martin Gottschling of Oldenburg, Germany, and Kevin McLaughlin of Hamilton, Canada, identified it as a Lesser Black-backed Gull. More

The taxonomy of the Herring Gull / Lesser Black-backed Gull complex is very complicated; different authorities recognise between two and eight species. This group has a ring 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. The only confusable species in Europe is Great Black-backed Gull. More

This adult Lesser Black-backed Gull was first observed at White Rock Lake in Dallas on December 20, 2003, by Brian Gibbons and Peter Billingham. It was photographed December 27. Photo by Matt White Lesser Black-backed Gull - Lake Lewisville, Denton County, January 4, 2001 More than the usual number of Lesser Black-backed Gulls were noted in North Central Texas during Winter 2000-'01, including this adult at Lake Lewisville that remained from January 4-21, 2001. More

Lesser Black-backed Gull is a medium-sized gull with dark grey mantle and yellow legs. It is slightly smaller than Herring Gull (Larus argentatus). Adult in breeding plumage has dark grey mantle and wings, and pure white underparts. Wings show white edges and black tips with small white spots. In flight, we can see a white trailing edge. Tail is white. Head is white with yellow bill. More

Slightly smaller than a herring gull, the lesser black-backed gull has a dark grey to black back and wings, yellow bill and yellow legs. Their world population is found entirely in Europe. After declines in the 19th century due to persecution they increased their range and numbers. This expansion has now halted and there is serious concern about declines in many parts of its range. More