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
-
An immature bird resting and yawning on the edge of a river while a Little Egret is walking and fishing close to it. Locality Canal de Gâmbia, Estuário do Sado Nature Reserve, Portugal
Josep del Hoyo 12 October 2012 25 weeks ago 13 sec 3 -
An adult Locality Gressholmen Island, Oslo Fjord, Oslo & Akershus, Norway (ssp intermedius)
Eric Roualet 26 June 2006 2 years ago 6 sec 3 -
An adult preening, besides a Common Black-headed Gull (left) and a Saunders' Gull (centre), both in winter plumage. Locality Yatsushiro Port, Yatsushiro, Kumamoto Prefecture, Kyushu, Japan (ssp heuglini)
Josep del Hoyo 26 January 2010 2 years ago 28 sec 3 -
2 birds feeding on a stranded carp at low tide Locality Bromley-by-Bow, London, England, Great Britain (ssp graellsii)
Stuart Fisher 17 March 2009 4 years ago 44 sec 3 -
A probable 3rd winter bird watching a falling leaf Locality Bromley-by-Bow, London, England, Great Britain (ssp graellsii)
Stuart Fisher 27 November 2008 4 years ago 6 sec 3 -
Two adults swimming Locality Lake Ziway, Oromia Region, Ethiopia (ssp heuglini)
Josep del Hoyo 20 December 2005 6 years ago 27 sec 3
-
An adult
Locality Bridge of Allan, Stirling Council, Scotland, Great Britain (ssp graellsii)
Anne Cotton 27 August 2010 2 years ago 3.2 -
2nd-cy
Locality Maine-et-Loire, Pays de la Loire, France (ssp intermedius)
Alain Fossé 25 August 2010 2 years ago 3.2 -
Adult arriving with the spray
Locality Dublin Bay, Dublin Region, Ireland
Brendan Marnell 10 June 2010 2 years ago 3.2 -
A bird close to water.
Locality Parc des Oiseaux, Villars-les-Dombes, Ain, Rhône-Alpes, France
Josep del Hoyo 8 April 1990 20 weeks ago 3 -
Three different gulls
Locality Oman
hythumm 16 March 2012 1 year ago 3 -
A first winter bird.
Locality Orange Valley, Trinidad, Trinidad and Tobago
nigel lallsingh 22 February 2009 1 year ago 3
-
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
Email this page