Lesser Black-Backed Gull (Larus fuscus) lives in coasts and lakes across Atlantic coasts of Europe. It feeds on fish and crustaceans. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
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Fascinating facts about the Lesser Black-Backed Gull
The lesser black-backed gull was once only a winter visitor to North America, appearing solely in the colder months. Since the 1980s it has expanded westwards, even colonising Greenland, and now arrives in large numbers during some winters while individuals are recorded throughout the year. Its migratory pattern still sees it winter from the British Isles down to West Africa, showing how its range has broadened dramatically.
The United Kingdom supports 40 % of the European lesser black-backed gull population, making it a crucial stronghold for the species. More than half of those birds breed at fewer than ten sites, concentrating the breeding effort in a small number of locations. Because of this concentration and ongoing declines elsewhere, the species is listed on the UK Amber List, highlighting the need for targeted conservation at those key colonies.
Adults measure 51-64 cm in length, span 124-150 cm across the wings and weigh 452-1,100 g. The nominate race is slightly smaller than the other two subspecies.
Hybrid breeding between lesser black-backed gulls and American herring gulls has been documented on the North American continent. The species has not yet produced a pure intraspecific pair in the United States, but hybrid pairs have been observed on two occasions. One of those mixed pairs successfully raised chicks, confirming that the two gulls can interbreed.
The lesser black-backed gull possesses a yellow bill that features a conspicuous red spot, a characteristic that triggers a fixed-action feeding response in chicks. Young birds instinctively peck at this spot, and the bill measures between 4.2 and 5.8 cm in length.
Sources
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As the tide ebbs and flows, the Lesser Black-Backed Gull dances along the shoreline, its agile form weaving in and out of the waves with an effortless elegance, its slate-grey feathers glistening like polished stone in the sunlight. With a piercing cry, it takes to the skies, its wings beating in a powerful, slow rhythm as it soars overhead, scanning the waters below for the telltale signs of its next meal. In its mastery of the coastal realm, this gull embodies a perfect harmony of grace and opportunism, a true monarch of the marine fringe.
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