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Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus [Linnaeus, 1758]
Other Names
Trends & Distribution
Breeding & Survival
Biometrics
Books & Links
Order:
Charadriiformes
Family:
Laridae
BTO Codes:
LB, LBBGU
EURING No:
5910
Number in Britain:
110 thousand pairs (Summer)
Conservation Status:
UK:
AMBER
European:
Not a species of concern
Global:
Least Concern
Links to: Images
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Status in UK:
(A) Migrant/Resident Breeder, Passage Visitor
Subspecies:
graellsi (RBW), intermedius (P), fuscus (V) recorded in Britain (of 4 subsp. in the world)
.
Length:
58 cm
Wingspan:
142 cm
Weight:
M/F: 830 g
Scientific name from:
Gr.: laros =a seabird
and L.: fuscus =dusky
World Distribution:
BREEDS: N&w Europe, nw Russia, WINTERS: south to s Africa & Persian Gulf
Habitat:
Seacoasts, lakes, rivers
Diet:
Omnivorous, often feeds at rubbish dumps or on shoals of fish
TitBit:
Until relatively recently the Lesser Blackback was almost exclusively a summer visitor, wintering in France and Portugal, but since the 1980s a rapidly increasing number stay for the winter
Population and Distribution
Population Trend:
No population trend available
Distribution:
New Atlas )
British Population Size:
Summer:
110 thousand pairs
in 1998-02
Winter:
118 to 131 thousand indviduals
in 1993
First Record:
1802
Latest Survey:
Mitchell, P.I. et al. (2004) Seabird populations of Britain and Ireland Poyser, London
Conservation Status:
AMBER
because
Localised Breeding Population,
Important Breeding Population
Previous Assessments:
2002-2007
AMBER
1996-2001
AMBER
Races of Concern:
graellsi AMBER (Rare or Localised) , intermedius GREEN
Habitat Occupancy (in the Breeding Season):
Common in:
Estuaries, Open Shore
Relative Frequency in Each Habitat:
European Population Size:
Summer:
300 to 350 thousand pairs
Birds in Europe
Listed on the Appendices/Schedules of:
WBD(II*)
Survey Results:
Breeding and Survival
Egg Size:
67 x 47 mm
Egg Weight:
78.5 g (of which 7 % is shell)
Number of Nest Records:
358
Clutch Size:
3 eggs
Incubation:
24- 27 days
by the:
Male + Female
Fledging:
30 - 40days
as:
Semi-precocial, downy
First Clutches Laid:
Unavailable
Number of Broods:
1
Number Ringed:
4903
Adult Survival:
0.913
± 0.012
(M:0.918
± 0.016;
F:0.907
± 0.018)
Juvenile Survival:
No data
Age at First Breeding:
4
years
Typical Lifespan:
15
years
Maximum Recorded Age:
34yr 10m
Biometrics
Ring Size:
Go
Wing Length
Adult:
410.9 ± 16.2
Range
384 - 438 mm, N =149
Juvenile:
408.9 ± 21.3
365 - 440 mm, N =48
Male:
Insufficient Data
Female:
Insufficient Data
Weight
Adult:
830.9 ± 103.8
Range
686.0 - 999.0 g , N =100
Juvenile:
784.9 ± 118.2
630.0 - 1000 g , N =54
Male:
Insufficient Data
Female:
Insufficient Data
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Ringing Scheme data
Other Names
Lesser Blackback
Gaelic:
Farspag-bheag
Welsh:
Gwylan Gefnddu
Danish:
Sildemåge
Dutch:
Kleine mantelmeeuw
Finnish:
Selkälokki
French:
Goéland brun
German:
Heringsmöwe
Hungarian:
Heringsirály
Icelandic:
Sílamáfur
Irish:
Droimneach Beag
Italian:
Zafferano
Norwegian:
Sildemåke
Polish:
Mewa zóltonoga
Portuguese:
Gaivota-d'asa-escura
Spanish:
Gaviota sombría
Swedish:
Silltrut
Local Names: Peerie Baagie
For More Information...
Books and Monographs:
No books written recently
See Also:
All About Birds (Cornell Lab of Ornithology)
Gough, G.A. et al. (1998) Patuxent Bird Identification Infocenter
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