Our Beautiful World

Lesser Black-backed Gull, Larus fuscus  

En. Lesser Black-backed Gull, Da. Sildemåge, Du. Kleine Mantelmeeuw, Fi. Selkälokki, Fr. Goéland brun,
Ge. Heringsmöwe, It. Zafferano, No. Sildemåke, Sp. Gaviota sombria, Sw. Silltrut



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Lesser Black-backed Gull, Larus fuscus
© Arthur Grosset
The Lesser Black-backed Gull is slightly smaller than the Herring Gull, Larus argentatus,
has darker grey upperparts, yellow bill with red spot,
almost no white spots on the wing tips at rest and yellowish legs.
The underwings of the Herring Gull are pure white.


© Arthur Grosset
Most birds migrate during the winter to the western Mediterranean and West Africa but increasing numbers now winter in Britain.



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This picture is also on our page with the Great Black-backed Gull. Which one is correctly placed?

Adult birds are most similar to Great Black-backed Gulls but they are smaller,
and less powerful and their dark grey backs are a few shades paler than the black in their wing-tips.
In Scandinavia, however, the Lesser Black-backs have darker backs and must therefore be distinguished by their smaller size, yellow legs and the relatively tiny amount
of white in the tips of the wings.
The immature birds are most likely to be confused with Herring Gulls especially during
their first winter when neither species has started to acquire the diagnostic mantle colour.
However, Lesser Black-backs always seem to have darker wings and mantle,
each feather being mainly dark with pale edges. In flight, the young Lesser Black-backs
have consistently dark brown wings without a pale area in the inner primaries.

text this frame: http://www.birdguides.com



© www.ecosystema.ru/


© www.ecosystema.ru/


© www.ecosystema.ru/

The Lesser Black-backed Gull is divided into several different subspecies
that differ in the darkness of the back.
Nearly all individuals that reach North America are of the graellsii subspecies that breeds
in Iceland, Britain, and western Europe.
It is the palest of the forms, with its back being much lighter than the black wingtips.


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At a Lesser Black-backed Gull breeding colony, immatures, nonbreeding adults,
and failed and off-duty breeders form "clubs" near the colony,
where they spend time "loafing," resting, and preening.
In colonies where other gull species are mixed in, clubs tend to be composed of one species only.



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ANIMALS

over 250

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BIRDS

over 500

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FLOWERS

over 225
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