Lesser black-backed gull

Lesser black-backed gull

Larus fuscus

Once a bird that was a regular summer visitor, you can now start to find this species in the UK all-year-round. Large numbers of lesser black-backed gulls breed around coastal clifftops, rooftops and islands. Whilst the majority of these return to Spain, Portugal and North-West Africa for the wintering months, our populations are now boosted in the winter by Scandinavian populations, who have slightly darker backs and wings.

At a glance, they can be very difficult to tell apart from the great black-backed gull, as they both have dark grey backs. The lesser black-backs however have yellow legs, a unique colour in amongst the pink legs of the greats and herring gulls. They also have longer wings, so have a more elegant-looking flight than other gulls.

Lesser black-backed gulls are omnivores and can scavenge for a wide range of food. They can commonly be found feeding over fields and rubbish tips, and have even been known to eat puffins and terns.

Conservation status

Lesser black-backed gulls are amber listed in the UK