# Lesser Black-backed Gull (*Larus fuscus*) The Lesser Black-backed Gull is a medium-sized bird with a striking black back and white wings. These gulls are often seen near the coast, where they love to hunt for fish and scavenge for food. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Coastal areas - **Also known as:** Lesser Black-backed Seagull ![Lesser Black-backed Gull](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Larus-fuscus-taxbox.jpg&width=800) Photo: Andreas Trepte, CC BY-SA 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Larus-fuscus-taxbox.jpg) ## Appearance The Lesser Black-backed Gull has a dark slate-grey to black back and wings, which contrasts sharply with its white underside. It sports bright yellow legs and a yellow bill tipped with a distinct red spot, making it visually distinct from similar gulls. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Charadriiformes - **Family:** Laridae - **Genus:** Larus ## Interesting facts - Some gulls are super smart and can remember human faces for years! - These birds are amazing travellers, following fishing boats far out to sea! - They can drink both fresh and saltwater without getting sick! - They often build their nests on city rooftops high above the ground! ## Special abilities - **Keen Eyesight:** Lesser Black-backed Gulls have excellent vision because it helps them spot food from high in the sky or over water. - **Powerful Flight:** Lesser Black-backed Gulls can fly long distances because their strong wings help them migrate across continents. - **Master Scavenger:** Lesser Black-backed Gulls have a flexible diet because they can eat almost anything, from fish to discarded food. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 50-60 cm - **Wingspan:** 125-150 cm - **Weight:** 0.69-1.1 kg - **Lifespan:** 20-25 years - **Speed:** 70 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 2-4 - **Incubation:** 27-30 days - **Migration Distance:** 5000 km ## Diet & Feeding A hungry bird that eats almost anything, from fish and insects to human scraps! - **Primary Foods:** Fish, Crustaceans, Insects, Carrion, Berries, Human refuse - **Foraging Method:** Scavenging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [Atlantic Mackerel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/atlantic-mackerel) (*Scomber scombrus*) — Preys on small fish in coastal waters. - **Eaten by:** [Brown Rat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-rat) (*Rattus norvegicus*) — Rats often raid nests, eating eggs and chicks. - **Hunts:** [Common Tern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-tern) (*Sterna hirundo*) — Preys on eggs and chicks from their colonies. - **Eaten by:** [Red Fox](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-fox) (*Vulpes vulpes*) — Foxes can prey on gull eggs, chicks, or adults. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Scavenger](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/scavenger): Scavengers consume dead organic matter, helping to decompose carcasses and other waste in the ecosystem. - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Watch from a distance and don't feed the gulls, as they can be a bit cheeky! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Lesser Black-backed Gull? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Lesser Black-backed Gull? 50-60 cm ### What is Lesser Black-backed Gull's wingspan? 125-150 cm ### How much does Lesser Black-backed Gull weigh? 0.69-1.1 kg ### How long does Lesser Black-backed Gull live? 20-25 years ### How fast can Lesser Black-backed Gull move? 70 km/h ### What does Lesser Black-backed Gull eat? A hungry bird that eats almost anything, from fish and insects to human scraps! ### Where is Lesser Black-backed Gull usually found? Coastal areas ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Lesser Black-backed Gull: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lesser-black-backed-gull)