Name

Laridae

Lesser black-backed gull

Framing

Phylum: Chordata

Subphylum: Vertebrata

Class: Aves

Order: Charadriiformes

Family: Laridae

Habitat

Beaches, sea cliffs and coastal areas in general, although it also frequents inland areas, especially near rubbish dumps and reservoirs. Sometimes nests on the roofs of buildings. When foraging, it regularly forages on beaches, harbours, coastal waters, river mouths, landfills and wetlands.

Feeding

Omnivorous. It preys on fish and marine invertebrates, but also on all types of small terrestrial animals, also consuming rubbish in rubbish dumps, as well as seeds and fruits. It frequently parasitizes other birds and plunders the colonies of different seabirds, where it steals eggs and chicks. Mainly predator of aquatic or terrestrial invertebrates, some fish and small terrestrial vertebrates, although it also consumes rubbish in rubbish dumps and plant matter.

Distribution

Western Palaearctic and Ethiopic region, nesting on the coasts of northern and western Europe and wintering in the southern half of its range. In Spain it is mainly a wintering bird, with a small breeding population in Galicia and the Ebro delta.

Conservation status

Not threatened

Additional information

Free. Gregarious. A slightly smaller gull than the yellow-legged (55 cm) with a general appearance very similar to the latter, but with the back of the wings very dark, almost black, so that the tips of the primaries do not stand out against the colour of the mantle. The young of the year have a mottled brown and white plumage, somewhat darker than the yellow-legged, although they are difficult to distinguish from the latter.