Photo: Arild Vågen / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Shorebirds

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Larus fuscus

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of Europe & Northern Asia.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Northern Territory Birds of Western Australia Birds of Alberta Birds of British Columbia Birds of Manitoba Birds of New Brunswick Birds of Newfoundland and Labrador Birds of Nova Scotia Birds of Northwest Territories Birds of Nunavut

By family

Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Northern Territory Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Western Australia Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Alberta Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of British Columbia Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Manitoba Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of New Brunswick Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Newfoundland and Labrador Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Nova Scotia Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Northwest Territories Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Nunavut

See what's near you right now

The Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) is a member of the Laridae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 762 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Charadriiformes
Family Laridae Gulls, Terns, Skimmers
Genus Larus
Species fuscus

Where it lives

Greenland, Iceland, western Europe to north-central Siberia

Europe & Northern Asia

Quick facts

Weight: 762 g
Diet: Aquatic hunters
Family: Laridae
Order: Charadriiformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Least Concern

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Lesser Black-backed Gull hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Behaviour

A bird of coastal habitats, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.

Migration

The Lesser Black-backed Gull is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.

The Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) belongs to the Laridae family of the order Charadriiformes. Its range spans Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL Greenland, Iceland, w Europe to nc Siberia.

It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 762 g, with a wing length of about 41.2 cm and a tail of around 14.7 cm.

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

The species has a mapped global range of roughly 4.2 million km².

Songs & calls

Lesser Black-backed Gull — Call, nocturnal flight call

Recorded by Bauke Albada Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Lesser Black-backed Gull?

The Lesser Black-backed Gull is a large bird that weighs around 762 g.

Where does the Lesser Black-backed Gull live?

The Lesser Black-backed Gull is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL Greenland, Iceland, w Europe to nc Siberia, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the Lesser Black-backed Gull belong to?

The Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) belongs to the Laridae family, in the order Charadriiformes.

What does the Lesser Black-backed Gull eat?

The Lesser Black-backed Gull hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Does the Lesser Black-backed Gull migrate?

The Lesser Black-backed Gull is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.

Is the Lesser Black-backed Gull endangered?

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

What sound does the Lesser Black-backed Gull make?

1 real field recording of the Lesser Black-backed Gull — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Lesser Black-backed Gull's range?

The Lesser Black-backed Gull has a mapped global range of about 4.2 million km².