Gulls (Laridae)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) - HBW 3, p. 611
French: Goéland brun
German: Heringsmöwe
Spanish: Gaviota Sombría
Taxonomy: Larus fuscus Linnaeus, 1758, Sweden.
Closely related to L. argentatus, and sometimes considered conspecific, but in most areas of sympatry the two are reproductively isolated; molecular evidence separates present species from L. argentatus and L. cachinnans. Very complex systematics involving several of the races. Some evidence that heuglini overlaps nominate fuscus, perhaps without interbreeding; may merit specific status as L. heuglini, which may even include L. a vegae. Form described as “antelius” (W Siberia) is a synonym of heuglini; “taimyrensis”.. View all taxonomy...
Taxonomy: Larus fuscus Linnaeus, 1758, Sweden.
Closely related to L. argentatus, and sometimes considered conspecific, but in most areas of sympatry the two are reproductively isolated; molecular evidence separates present species from L. argentatus and L. cachinnans. Very complex systematics involving several of the races. Some evidence that heuglini overlaps nominate fuscus, perhaps without interbreeding; may merit specific status as L. heuglini, which may even include L. a vegae. Form described as “antelius” (W Siberia) is a synonym of heuglini; “taimyrensis” (Yenisey and Taymyr Peninsula) considered not separable from heuglini. See also L. argentatus. Four subspecies recognized.
Closely related to L. argentatus, and sometimes considered conspecific, but in most areas of sympatry the two are reproductively isolated; molecular evidence separates present species from L. argentatus and L. cachinnans. Very complex systematics involving several of the races. Some evidence that heuglini overlaps nominate fuscus, perhaps without interbreeding; may merit specific status as L. heuglini, which may even include L. a vegae. Form described as “antelius” (W Siberia) is a synonym of heuglini; “taimyrensis” (Yenisey and Taymyr Peninsula) considered not separable from heuglini. See also L. argentatus. Four subspecies recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution:
- graellsii A. E. Brehm, 1857 - Iceland, Faeroes, British Is, France and Iberia; winters from SW Europe to W Africa.
- fuscus Linnaeus, 1758 - Sweden and N Norway E to White Sea; winters mostly in Africa and SW Asia.
- intermedius Schiøler, 1922 - Netherlands, Denmark and S Norway, with isolated population in NE Spain (Ebro Delta); winters mostly in W Europe and W Africa.
- heuglini Bree, 1876 - N Siberia, from S Kola Peninsula E to Taymyr Peninsula; winters from Middle East S to E Africa, and E to NW India.
- Least Concern Enlarge map
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Sea gull at rest in the rock of Gibraltar Locality Gibraltar
MarcS 20 March 2012 1 year ago 46 sec 4.5 -
Adult standing on ship's rail, calling Locality Stockholm, Stockholm County, Sweden (ssp fuscus)
Joe Angseesing 17 July 2008 3 years ago 33 sec 4.5 -
A first winter bird feeding on bread thrown by the photographer, showing agression against a congener and calling. Locality Hook of Holland, South Holland Province, Netherlands (ssp graellsii)
Pieter de Groot Boersma 2 September 2006 3 years ago 29 sec 4.5 -
An adult in breeding plumage with a glaucous gull waiting fishes given by a fisherman Locality Pyasina Delta, Taymyr Peninsula, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Eastern Russia, Russia (ssp heuglini)
Laurent Demongin 10 July 2008 4 years ago 28 sec 4.5 -
A bird on deck of the ferry to Texel. Locality Texel, North Holland Province, Netherlands
Yoel Jimenez 30 April 2010 2 years ago 45 sec 4.4 -
At the pond on the island Langeoog. Locality Langeoog, East Frisian Islands, Lower Saxony, Germany
Christian Wiesmann 26 June 2012 42 weeks ago 1 min 42 sec 4.2
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Scavengers learn ingenuity. This was the first of 3 drops on to granite pier to break crab-shell.
Locality Dublin Bay, Dublin Region, Ireland
Brendan Marnell 12 April 2009 2 years ago 4.8 -
In flight at Doha Port.
Locality Doha, Qatar
John A Thompson 11 January 2005 2 years ago 4.3 -
Adult
Locality Helgoland, Germany
Paul Cools 7 June 2008 27 weeks ago 4.3 -
4th-cy graellsii/intermedius in January
Locality Maine-et-Loire, Pays de la Loire, France (ssp graellsii/intermedius)
Alain Fossé 8 January 2009 2 years ago 4.3 -
birds following a ferry
Locality Texel, North Holland Province, Netherlands (ssp intermedius)
Stefan Helming 19 July 2008 4 years ago 4.2 -
Protecting their nest from intruders like me makes them nasty.
Locality Ireland's Eye, Fingal County, Dublin Region, Ireland
Brendan Marnell 30 June 2008 2 years ago 4.2
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Adults alarming in the colony Locality Pyasina Delta, Taymyr Peninsula, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Eastern Russia, Russia
(ssp heuglini)
Laurent Demongin 20 July 2008 3 years ago 4.5 -
Territorial call of a subadult Locality London, England, Great Britain
(ssp graellsii)
Stuart Fisher 11 December 2008 4 years ago 4
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