Share

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Lesser black-backed gull ©Derek Moore

Lesser black-backed gull

The lesser-black backed gull can be spotted around the coast in summer, with the biggest colony on Walney Island, Cumbria. Look for it over fields, landfill sites and reservoirs during winter.

Scientific name

Larus fuscus

When to see

January to December

Species information

Statistics

Length: 52-67cm
Wingspan: 135-150cm
Weight: 620-1000g
Average lifespan: 15 years
Classified in the UK as Amber under the Birds of Conservation Concern 5: the Red List for Birds (2021).

About

The lesser-black backed gull can be seen on farmland, wetlands and around the coast. It is a large, elegant gull, just a little smaller than the herring gull. Like many gulls, it is omnivorous and often scavenges around rubbish tips and in urban areas. The entire world's population of this gull is found in Europe. A staggering one third of the UK's population can be found at Walney Island in Cumbria.

How to identify

Gulls can be very difficult to tell apart, especially immature birds. Adult lesser-black backed gulls are dark grey above and white below, with a white head (streaky during the winter) and black wingtips with white spots. They have yellowy-orange legs.

Distribution

Widespread. Nests around the coast on clifftops, rooftops and islands.

Did you know?

Until recently, lesser-black backed gulls were only summer visitors to the UK, but now some are resident here all year-round. In the winter, they are joined by birds from Scandinavia, while those of our summer breeding birds that do still migrate spend their winter in Africa.