Specie's Page                                               Water Fowl - Lesser Black-backed Gulls

Lesser Black-backed Gull:

UK Status: Resident in the UK, also joined by over wintering birds from further north.

Habitat: This bird is found around most of the British coast line, and is often found further inland, especially in winter when over wintering birds arrive. As well as around the coast, they are also found on inland waters such as lakes, rivers and estuaries, large pools and gravel pits. These birds are scavengers and are often seen on land fills, gardens and waste ground, in fact anywhere there is a good food supply.

Breeding: Mating starts as early as February, courting is full on by March, and the nests are built in late March, and well into April. Nests are built on rocky ledges, and sometimes on the flat roof tops of human buildings, and they even nest in city centres. These nests are well constructed deep cups made with interwoven twigs, the cup is lined with dried grasses, and sometimes other vegetation. There are typically three eggs in a clutch, they are of a buff colour, and are splodged with large brown and grey markings, there is only one brood a year.

Comment: Not a common gull any more, it's numbers have been declining over the last few decades. It's survival as a British species is of concern. Lesser Black-backed Gulls look very similar to it's larger cousin the Greater Black-backed Gull, the largest gull in the world. Lesser Black-backed have yellowish legs, Greater Black-backed have pinkish legs, and are larger birds.

This bird is very much like the Yellow-legged Gull, the wing coverts are darker though, and the Yellow-legged is a slightly larger bird.

Yellow-legged Gull

Herring Gull

Greater Black-backed Gulls have pink legs, and are larger and bulkier in appearance. Their colour is darker charcoal, or black, the white mirrors on the wing tips are larger.

Lesser Black-backed Gulls have yellow legs, a slimmer and smaller appearance, and are not as dark in colour, being slate grey. They also have smaller white mirrors on the wing tips.