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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An adult swimming besides a Great Black-headed Gull and two Common Black-headed Gulls Locality Lake Ziway, Oromia Region, Ethiopia (ssp heuglini)
Josep del Hoyo 20 December 2005 6 years ago 27 sec 3 -
Two adults calling Locality Lier, Antwerp Province, Belgium
Leo Janssen 4 March 2000 9 years ago 19 sec 3 -
A bird flying, defecating in the air. Locality Santoña Marsh Natural Reserve, Santoña, Cantabria, Spain (ssp graellsii)
Josep del Hoyo 6 December 2008 3 years ago 15 sec 2.8 -
A bird swimming Locality Awassa Lake, SNNPR Region, Ethiopia (ssp heuglini)
Josep del Hoyo 18 December 2005 6 years ago 11 sec 2.7 -
A pair Locality Gressholmen Island, Oslo Fjord, Oslo & Akershus, Norway (ssp intermedius)
Eric Roualet 12 April 2006 2 years ago 8 sec 2.7 -
A bird swimming. Locality Santoña Marsh Natural Reserve, Santoña, Cantabria, Spain (ssp graellsii)
Josep del Hoyo 6 December 2008 3 years ago 19 sec 2
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2nd-cy in October
Locality Maine-et-Loire, Pays de la Loire, France (ssp graellsii/intermedius)
Alain Fossé 24 October 2007 2 years ago 3 -
Adult winter plumage
Locality Ebro Delta, Tarragona Province, Catalonia, Spain (ssp intermedius)
Dani Valverde 7 December 2009 2 years ago 3 -
A juvenile standing on the dock.
Locality Cudillero, Asturias, Spain (ssp graellsii)
Carlos Fabregat 3 September 2007 4 years ago 3 -
A bird swimming.
Locality Madrid, Spain
Pedro Ortega Pinilla 24 February 2009 4 years ago 3 -
Lesser Black-backed Gull with Great Black-backed Gull in the background for comparison.
Locality Daytona Beach Shores, Volusia County, Florida, USA (United States)
killiajk 31 January 2009 4 years ago 3 -
Flying
Locality Jamnagar District, Gujarat, India
Shantilal Varu 27 November 2010 1 year ago 2.8
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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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