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Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) German name(s): "Heringsmöwe" Size: 48-56 cm; wing span: 1.15-1.35 m Body mass: 0.45-1.1 kg Wing loading [g/cm2]: 0.27-0.36

Europe: Family Group 10 Family Group 10 Table Great Skua Arctic Skua Pomarine Skua Caspian Gull Great Black-backed Gull Lesser Black-backed Gull American Herring Gull European Herring Gull Yellow-legged Gull Audouin's Gull Slender-billed Gull Iceland Gull Common Gull Ring-billed Gull Black-headed Gull Bonaparte's Gull Mediterranean Gull Little Gull Sabine's Gull Black-legged Kittiwake Caspian Tern Sandwich Tern Gull-billed Tern Common Tern Arctic Tern Little Tern Forster's Tern Whiskered Tern Black Tern White-winged Black Tern Atlantic Puffin Razorbill Common Guillemot Black Guillemot Thumbnails page Family group table Index of bird names European birds home page

Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Lesser Black-backed Gulls are large white-headed gulls. They take three years to reach maturity, so there are four different phases of plumage. During the breeding season, adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls have an all-white head and front, with narrow red eye-rings. Depending on race, the mantle and upperwings can be slate-grey to jet-black. The wings have a narrow white trailing edge and also leading edge outside the alula, and four white spots on the ends of the outer flight feathers that are prominently visible on the folded wings. In eclipse the head and hindneck become streaked grey. Their most prominent (but not unique!) feature is the strong, yellow bill with a red spot near the tip of the lower mandible. The irises are pale-grey. The legs and feet are greyish-yellow. There are 3 different immature plumages. The plumage of two year old birds already closely resembles that of adults, but with some residual grey streaking on the head and neck and with some sub-adult wing coverts. The bill is mostly olive-grey, with a black band across both mandibles near the tip. The legs and feet are greyish-pink. One year old birds have a mottled grey head, a mostly light-grey front and mottled grey sides. The wings are mostly grey, with some mottling on the coverts; the tips of the outer primaries and the tail are black. The legs and feet are still greyish. The irises are quite dark. The frontal half of the bill is black, with a light-grey tip, the base is grey. Juveniles have an all-black bill, a strongly streaked front and boldly scalloped brownish-grey mantle and wings with pale tail tips.

Taxonomy, classification See Lesser Black-backed Gull at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Lesser Black-backed Gull is available HERE . There are 5 extant races of the Lesser Black-backed Gull, which are a partly sedentary, partly migratory species. Their overall range extends from parts of North America (in particular the eastern half of the continent) via New Foundland, Greenland, Iceland and Svalbard to Europe, north-western and northern coastal Africa, the river Nile valley, Asia Minor, parts of the Middle East and near-coastal Arabia into Asia, including the Indian subcontinent. In the East their range extends to eastern China, the Korean peninsula and parts of Japan. In Europe Lesser Black-backed Gulls are partly sedentary and partly migratory species that is found only in (near-)coastal areas. Their winter grounds range from the Irish, English and Benelux coastlines southward along the French and Iberian coastline into the entire Mediterranean. In the northern part of that wintering range, from central Iberia northward, there are also areas where Lesser Black-backed Gulls stay all year round. They are summer breeding migrants in the northern parts of their range, which encompasses Scotland and associated islands (up to Iceland) and the German, Danish and Scandinavian Atlantic coastline, as well as the northern Baltic Sea coastline and the Finnish lake district. During their migration the Baltic breeding population may be found along distinct flight paths towards the Adriatic, the Bosporus and the western half of the Black Sea.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "intermedius" M. Thomas reports spotting Lesser Black-backed Gulls, race "intermedius", in Lökken, Jütland, Denmark, in September 2019. J. Pires found a Lesser Black-backed Gull, race "intermedius", on Morraceira island, Figueira da Foz, Mondego estuary, Portugal, in January 2023. C. Pears found Lesser Black-backed Gulls, race "intermedius", in various locations in Norway, e.g. in Narvik, in September 2024. Race "graellsii" Both G. Pinelas and J. Pires report spotting Lesser Black-backed Gulls, race "graellsii", regularly on the coastline of southern/central Portugal. C. Pears found Lesser Black-backed Gulls, race "graellsii", at Crail, near St Andrews, Scotland, in September 2017. Others were found in the Lake District, Cumberland, England, in September 2024.

Photos

Race "intermedius"

This race is also called the "Baltic Gull".

ADULT

BREEDING

Sex unknown

Near-frontal view of a Lesser Black-backed Gull in breeding plumage; note the very dark-grey mantle characteristic of this race; the absence of streaking on head and neck is typical for breeding plumage - click on image to also see an European Herring Gull (photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Lökken, Jütland, Denmark, September 2019]

Near-lateral view of a Lesser Black-backed Gull in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Lökken, Jütland, Denmark, September 2019]

Near-lateral view of a Lesser Black-backed Gull in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Lökken, Jütland, Denmark, September 2019]

Lateral view of a Lesser Black-backed Gull in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Lökken, Jütland, Denmark, September 2019]

Lateral view of a Lesser Black-backed Gull in breeding plumage - click on image to also see an European Herring Gull
(photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Lökken, Jütland, Denmark, September 2019]

NON-BREEDING

Sex unknown

Close-up near-lateral view of a Lesser Black-backed Gull in non-breeding plumage; given its very dark-grey mantle, this bird is likely of race "intermedius" (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Morraceira island, Figueira da Foz, Mondego estuary, Portugal, January 2023]

Race "graellsii"

ADULT

BREEDING

Sex unknown

Frontal view of a Lesser Black-backed Gull in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Costa da Caparica, Portugal, August 2017]

Frontal view of a Lesser Black-backed Gull in breeding plumage looking sideways (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Port of Sesimbra, Sesimbra, Setubal, Portugal, September 2020]

Close-up near-frontal view of a Lesser Black-backed Gull in breeding plumage looking towards the observer
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake District, Cumberland, England, September 2024]

Close-up near-frontal view of a preening Lesser Black-backed Gull in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake District, Cumberland, England, September 2024]

Close-up near-frontal view of a preening Lesser Black-backed Gull in breeding plumage looking sideways
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake District, Cumberland, England, September 2024]

Near-frontal view of a Lesser Black-backed Gull in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Costa da Caparica, Portugal, July 2017]

Near-lateral view of a Lesser Black-backed Gull in breeding plumage, right; for comparison, a second calendar-year(?) Ring-billed Gull (photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Costa da Caparica, Portugal, July 2017]

Lateral view of a Lesser Black-backed Gull in breeding plumage; second calendar-year Lesser Black-backed Gull at front left (photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Costa da Caparica, Portugal, August 2017]

Lateral view of a Lesser Black-backed Gull in breeding plumage snoozing on a rooftop (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Port of Sesimbra, Setubal, Portugal, February 2020]

Lateral view of a Lesser Black-backed Gull in breeding plumage snoozing on a rooftop (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sesimbra, Setubal, Portugal, March 2019]

Flock of Lesser Black-backed Gulls, with adults in breeding plumage and various juvenile/immature stages
(photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Costa da Caparica, Portugal, July 2017]

Near-lateral view of a Lesser Black-backed Gull in breeding plumage in flight, wings up (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Cabo Raso, Cascais, near Lisbon, Portugal, February 2019]

Near-lateral view of a Lesser Black-backed Gull in breeding plumage in flight, wings down (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Cabo Raso, Cascais, near Lisbon, Portugal, May 2019]

Lateral view of a Lesser Black-backed Gull in breeding plumage in flight, with a view of its upperparts
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Peniche, Peniche, Portugal, February 2019]

Lateral view of a Lesser Black-backed Gull in breeding plumage in flight, with a view of its upperparts
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Cabo Raso, Cascais, near Lisbon, Portugal, February 2019]

Lateral view of a Lesser Black-backed Gull in breeding plumage in flight, with a view of its underparts
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Cabo Raso, Cascais, near Lisbon, Portugal, February 2019]

NON-BREEDING

Sex unknown

Frontal view of a Lesser Black-backed Gull in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Port of Sesimbra, Sesimbra, Setubal, Portugal, September 2020]

Frontal view of a Lesser Black-backed Gull in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Port of Sesimbra, Sesimbra, Setubal, Portugal, September 2020]

Frontal view of a Lesser Black-backed Gull in non-breeding plumage looking sideways (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Port of Sesimbra, Sesimbra, Setubal, Portugal, September 2020]

Frontal view of a Lesser Black-backed Gull in non-breeding plumage, together with a Black-tailed Godwit
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Montijo, Tejo estuary, Portugal, January 2019]

Near-frontal view of a Lesser Black-backed Gull moulting into non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Port of Sesimbra, Sesimbra, Setubal, Portugal, September 2020]

Near-lateral view of a Lesser Black-backed Gull in non-breeding plumage at the point of take-off (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Port of Vila Real Santo Antonio, Faro, Algarve, Portugal, October 2020]

Lateral view of a Lesser Black-backed Gull in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Port of Sesimbra, Sesimbra, Setubal, Portugal, September 2020]

Lateral view of a Lesser Black-backed Gull in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Almada, Setubal, Portugal, January 2023]

Near-dorsal view of a Lesser Black-backed Gull in non-breeding plumage with a tracking device - unfortunately, having slipped over the hind toe, the device appears to be bothering the bird (photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Sesimbra, Setubal, Portugal, December 2017]

Near-dorsal view of a Lesser Black-backed Gull in non-breeding plumage; note its size compared to the much larger first calendar-year Great Black-backed Gull in the foreground (photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Torre Beach, Carcavelos, near Lisbon, Portugal, November 2017]

Dorsal view of a Lesser Black-backed Gull in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Port of Sesimbra, Sesimbra, Setubal, Portugal, September 2020]

Dorsal view of a Lesser Black-backed Gull in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Off Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2022]

Near-frontal view of a Lesser Black-backed Gull in non-breeding plumage in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Cabo da Roca, Cascais, near Lisbon, Portugal, February 2019]

Near-lateral view of a Lesser Black-backed Gull in non-breeding plumage in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Cabo Sardao, Odemira, Portugal, October 2020]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Frontal view of a fourth calendar-year immature Lesser Black-backed Gull (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Port of Sesimbra, Sesimbra, Setubal, Portugal, September 2020]

Near-lateral view of a fourth calendar-year immature Lesser Black-backed Gull (photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Costa da Caparica, Portugal, November 2017]

Frontal view of a third calendar-year Lesser Black-backed Gull with a juvenile taking a bath (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Peniche, Peniche, Portugal, February 2019]

Near-frontal view of a third-winter Lesser Black-backed Gull (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Port of Sesimbra, Sesimbra, Setubal, Portugal, September 2020]

Near-lateral view of a third-winter Lesser Black-backed Gull spreading its wings (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Docapesca beach, Lisbon, Portugal, January 2019]

Lateral view of a third-winter Lesser Black-backed Gull (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Salinas do Forte do Rato, Tavira, Algarve, Portugal, September 2020]

Lateral view of a third-winter Lesser Black-backed Gull (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Docapesca beach, Lisbon, Portugal, January 2019]

Lateral view of a third-winter Lesser Black-backed Gull (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Docapesca beach, Lisbon, Portugal, January 2019]

Near-dorsal view of a third-winter Lesser Black-backed Gull (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Port of Vila Real Santo Antonio, Faro, Algarve, Portugal, October 2020]

Near-dorsal view of a third-winter Lesser Black-backed Gull (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[El Retiro, Madrid, Spain, December 2019]

Dorsal view of a third-winter Lesser Black-backed Gull (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Docapesca beach, Lisbon, Portugal, January 2019]

Lateral view of a second calendar-year immature Lesser Black-backed Gull (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Port of Vila Real Santo Antonio, Faro, Algarve, Portugal, October 2020]

Near-frontal view of a second calendar-year immature Lesser Black-backed Gull (photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Costa da Caparica, Portugal, July 2017]

Lateral view of a second calendar-year immature Lesser Black-backed Gull (photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Costa da Caparica, Portugal, July 2017]

Lateral view of a second calendar-year immature Lesser Black-backed Gull (photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Costa da Caparica, Portugal, July 2017]

Lateral view of a second calendar-year immature Lesser Black-backed Gull (photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Costa da Caparica, Portugal, August 2017]

Lateral view of second calendar-year immature Lesser Black-backed Gulls behind a second calendar-year(?) Ring-billed Gull (photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Costa da Caparica, Portugal, July 2017]

Lateral view of a second winter Lesser Black-backed Gull in flight, with a view of its upperparts (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Cabo Raso, Cascais, near Lisbon, Portugal, February 2019]

Lateral view of a second winter Lesser Black-backed Gull in flight, with a view of its underparts (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Cabo Raso, Cascais, near Lisbon, Portugal, February 2019]

Near-dorsal view of a second-winter immature Lesser Black-backed Gull (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Port of Vila Real Santo Antonio, Faro, Algarve, Portugal, October 2020]

Frontal view of a first calendar-year Lesser Black-backed Gull (photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Costa da Caparica, Portugal, November 2017]

Frontal view of a first calendar-year Lesser Black-backed Gull (photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Costa da Caparica, Portugal, September 2017]

Near-lateral view of a first calendar-year Lesser Black-backed Gull (photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Costa da Caparica, Portugal, November 2017]

Lateral view of a first calendar-year Lesser Black-backed Gull (photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Costa da Caparica, Portugal, September 2017]

Lateral view of a first calendar-year Lesser Black-backed Gull (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2019]

Lateral view of two first calendar-year Lesser Black-backed Gulls (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Crail, near St Andrews, Scotland, September 2017]

Frontal view of a first calendar-year Lesser Black-backed Gull, back, here in comparison with a first calendar-year Mediterranean Gull (photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Lagoa de Albufeira, near Sesimbra, Setubal, Portugal, August 2017]

Lateral view of a first calendar-year Lesser Black-backed Gull, back, here in comparison with a first calendar-year Mediterranean Gull (photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Lagoa de Albufeira, near Sesimbra, Setubal, Portugal, August 2017]

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Communal

Mobility: Migratory

Elementary unit: Solitary/mob/flock

Lesser Black-backed Gulls are colonial breeders. Although defending their individual nest sites, like other species do, they make more use of collective "tactics" (like synchronous hatching of chicks) to seek "safety in numbers" in these breeding colonies. Also outside the breeding season this species tends to be more sociable than other European gulls.

Food, Diet

Near-frontal view of a Lesser Black-backed Gull with its prey, a crab (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Cabo Raso, Cascais, near Lisbon, Portugal, February 2019]

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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