The lesser black-backed gull (Larus fuscus) is a large gull that breeds on the Atlantic and Arctic coasts of Europe. It is migratory, wintering from the British Isles south to West Africa. However, it has increased dramatically in North America, especially along the east coast. Formerly just a winter visitor to North America, it now occurs in large numbers some winters and birds are recorded year-round. However, there is serious concern about decline in many parts of its range. The species is on the UK Amber List because the UK is home to 40 per cent of the European population and more than half of these are found at fewer than ten breeding sites. The scientific name is from Latin. Larus appears to have referred to a gull or other large seabird, and fuscus meant black or brown.

Subspecies

Five subspecies are accepted:

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! Image !! Subspecies !! Distribution

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|120px ||L. f. graellsii <small>Brehm, 1857</small>|| Greenland, Iceland, Faroe Islands, British Isles, western Europe - mantle dark grey

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|120px||L. f. intermedius <small>Schiøler, 1922</small>|| Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, southwest Sweden and western Norway - mantle sooty black

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|120px||L. f. fuscus <small>Linnaeus, 1758</small>|| northern Norway, Sweden and Finland to the White Sea - mantle jet black

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|120px||L. f. heuglini <small>Bree, 1876</small>|| northern Russia to north-central Siberia; known as Heuglin's gull, this was previously considered a separate species.

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|120px||L. f. barabensis <small>Johansen, 1960</small>|| central Asia

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Description

The lesser black-backed gull is smaller than the European herring gull. The taxonomy of the herring gull / lesser black-backed gull complex is complicated; different authorities recognise between two and eight species. This group has a ring species 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 lesser black-backed gull measures , across the wings, and weighs , with the nominate race averaging slightly smaller than the other two subspecies.

Young birds have scaly black-brown upperparts and a neat wing pattern. They take four years to reach maturity. Identification from juvenile herring gulls is most readily done by the more solidly dark (unbarred) tertial feathers.

Their call is a "laughing" cry like that of the herring gull, <!-- (to which this species is closely related) -->but with a markedly deeper pitch.

Distribution

Lesser black-backed gulls have expanded their range westwards, first colonising Greenland in the 1980s. The species has not yet bred in an intraspecific pair in the United States; however, hybrid pairs with American herring gulls, one of which produced offspring, have been recorded twice.

Breeding

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

  • Lesser black-backed gull pages on www.gull-research.org
  • Lesser black-backed gulls in Amsterdam
  • Lesser black-backed gull Structured guide to the species in southern Africa