Lesser Black-backed Gull

What do Lesser Black-backed Gulls look like?

The Lesser Black-backed Gull is a medium-sized Larus gull with a relatively slender and graceful appearance. There are five subspecies, each with slight physical differences, although most of the birds seen in the United Kingdom and North America are L. f. graellsii.

Ironically, the back and wings of this subspecies are dark slaty-grey rather than black. Their yellow bill has a red gonydeal spot toward the tip, and their legs are yellow. The head, neck, breast, and belly are usually pure white, although the head is lightly streaked in the autumn/fall and winter, creating a somewhat dirty look.

Females and males look alike, but juveniles are brownish with black bills and pinkish legs. Their back and upper wings are checkered in black and white. Young birds develop adult plumage after four years.

Lesser Black-backed Gulls are most likely to be confused with the Herring Gull (L. argentatus), which has silvery wings and pinkish legs, and the Great Black-backed Gull (L. marinus), which is much larger and has pinkish legs.

How big are Lesser Black-backed Gulls?

Lesser Black-backed Gulls are large gulls, similar in size to the Herring Gull.

Length

Adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls measure 52 to 64 centimetres or 20½ to 25 inches in length.

Weight

They weigh 550 to 1200 grams or 19 to 42 ounces.

Wingspan

Adults have a wingspan of 124 to 158 centimetres or 49 to 62 inches.

What sound does a Lesser Black-backed Gull make?

Lesser Black-backed Gulls make typical gull-like calls, including a ‘long call’, high-pitched whines, a laughter-like ‘gagaga’ and a ‘kyow’ or ‘khow’ note.

What is the habitat of a Lesser Black-backed Gull?

Lesser Black-backed Gulls forage offshore, along rocky and sandy seashores, in estuaries and harbours, and inland at lakes and reservoirs. They are increasingly common in towns and cities, and many now nest on rooftops and visit rubbish dumps to scavenge for scraps.

What is the range of a Lesser Black-backed Gull?

Lesser Black-backed Gulls have a wide distribution in Europe, Asia, North America, and Africa. They occur across Europe and Asia, from Iceland to South Korea. Overwintering birds regularly disperse as far as South Africa and the Gulf Coast of the United States.

Where do Lesser Black-backed Gulls live?

Lesser Black-backed Gulls are opportunistic birds that live in both natural and human-altered environments. These adaptable seabirds are comfortable on land, in flight, and on the water.

How rare are Lesser Black-backed Gulls?

Lesser Black-backed Gulls are common in the United Kingdom throughout the year, although they are most numerous in the warmer months when an estimated 110,000 pairs nest in colonies along the coast and on rooftops. They are increasingly common in North America since they began nesting in Iceland about a century ago.

Where can you see Lesser Black-backed Gulls in the UK?

Birdwatchers can spot Lesser Black-backed Gulls around the United Kingdom’s coastline throughout the year. They also occur further inland in low-lying areas of England and southern Scotland, especially in the winter. Look out for them around rubbish dumps during the day or at roost sites around reservoirs in the mornings and evenings.

Where can you see Lesser Black-backed Gulls in North America?

Lesser Black-backed Gulls are fairly common winter visitors to beaches along the East Coast of the United States and inland on the Great Lakes. Smaller numbers occur further inland and south to the Gulf Coast.

Do Lesser Black-backed Gulls migrate?

Lesser Black-backed Gulls are medium to long-distance migrants across most of their range, and some northern breeders migrate impressive distances of over 7000 kilometres (4350 mi) to overwintering grounds in Africa.

However, they have become increasingly sedentary in the United Kingdom, where more than 120,000 individuals now spend the winter. These gulls don’t usually breed in North America, but more and more are visiting from Greenland and Western Europe each winter.

• Look for them near coastal areas, especially around harbours and estuaries
• Observe their distinctive dark grey to black back to differentiate them from other gull species
• Listen for their harsh, laughing call, especially in breeding colonies
• In the UK, watch for them inland, as they increasingly nest on urban rooftops

What do Lesser Black-backed Gulls eat?

Lesser Black-backed Gulls are opportunistic hunters and scavengers. They are primarily carnivorous, although they will take berries at times. Typical food sources include small fish, marine invertebrates, food scraps, rodents, and bird eggs.

What do Lesser Black-backed Gull chicks eat?

Lesser Black-backed Gull chicks are usually fed small fish like herring and sand eels, and both parents bring food back to their young. Interestingly, the red spot (known as the gonydeal spot) on the lower mandible of these and many other adult Larus gull species is thought to encourage chicks to peck at their parent's bill to beg for food.

Where do Lesser Black-backed Gulls nest?

Lesser Black-backed Gulls nest in colonies, often with other seabirds like Herring Gulls. Colonies nest on coastal islands, sea cliffs, dunes, and rooftops where there is less risk of predation from foxes and other ground predators. Nests are built on the ground from plant material and feathers.

When do Lesser Black-backed Gulls nest?

Lesser Black-backed Gulls first breed when they are four years old. Most females lay their eggs in May and June, which take 24 to 28 days to hatch. Their chicks may leave the nest just days after hatching but remain nearby and fledge after about 30 to 40 days.

What do Lesser Black-backed Gull eggs look like?

Lesser Black-backed Gull eggs are olive-brown to blue-green with dark brown markings. Females usually lay a single clutch of two or three eggs, each measuring approximately 67 millimetres long and 47 millimetres wide.

Do Lesser Black-backed Gulls mate for life?

Lesser Black-backed Gulls may form lasting pair bonds, although studies indicate that at least some birds will select a new partner each year.

Are Lesser Black-backed Gulls aggressive?

Lesser Black-backed Gulls will use aggression to steal food from their own kind or other birds, although they are also bullied by larger species. They usually avoid humans, but adults and juveniles may be aggressive toward people who approach their nesting area.

How long do Lesser Black-backed Gulls live?

Many seabird species have surprising longevity, and the Lesser Black-backed Gull is no exception. These long-lived birds have a typical lifespan of about 15 years, with the record set at over 34 years.

What are the predators of Lesser Black-backed Gulls?

Healthy adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls have few natural enemies. They are most vulnerable to ground predators like foxes, badgers, and mink when nesting.

Are Lesser Black-backed Gulls protected?

Lesser Black-backed Gulls are protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act in the United Kingdom and by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act in the USA.

Are Lesser Black-backed Gulls endangered?

Lesser Black-backed Gulls are a secure species in the Least Concern category of the IUCN Red List. They have an extensive distribution, and their numbers are generally increasing.

While currently listed as Least Concern, Lesser Black-backed Gulls face threats from habitat loss, pollution, and climate change. Conservation efforts focus on protecting breeding sites and managing urban populations to reduce conflicts with humans.