Taken on Skomer, Pembrokeshire, on May 6th 2014. (© David Hastings)
(1/640th sec at f11. Click image for larger version)
Taken on Skomer, Pembrokeshire, on May 6th 2014. (© David Hastings)
(1/320th sec at f13. Click image for larger version)
Juvenile. Taken at Farmoor, Oxon., on September 20th 2024. (© David Hastings)
(1/800th sec at f8. Click image for larger version)

Description

L: 48 - 56 cm; WS: 117 - 134 cm

The Lesser Black-backed Gull has a dark grey to black back and wings, yellow bill and yellow legs. For most of the year four age-groups can be identified, but in late summer there are also juvenile (1st summer) birds.

It is found in north-west Europe and around the Baltic.

In Britain it is found around the coastline in summer and on some inland high moors. The biggest UK colony is on Walney Island, Cumbria, with one third of the UK population.

In north and east Europe this species is a long-distance migrant, flying to Africa for the winter. Western birds are shorter-distance migrants, and many over-winter in the British Isles.

This species is on the amber list, because the UK is home to 40% of the European population and more than half of these are found at fewer than ten sites.

Sightings