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Lesser Black-backed Gull![]() Size: 48-56 cm; wing span: 1.15-1.35 m Weight: 0.45-1.1 kg |
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Photos |
Race "intermedius"
This race is also called the "Baltic Gull".
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ADULT |
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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]
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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"
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ADULT |
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BREEDING |
Sex unknown |
Frontal view of a Lesser Black-backed Gull in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Port of Sesimbra, Sesimbra, Setubal, Portugal, September 2020]
Frontal view of a Lesser Black-backed Gull in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Costa da Caparica, Portugal, August 2017]
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]
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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]
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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]
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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]