The lesser black-backed gull (Larus fuscus) is a large, distinctive gull with yellow legs and dark slate-grey wings. Primarily a migratory species in Britain, it breeds around coasts and on inland moors, then largely departs for Africa and Iberia in winter, though increasing numbers now overwinter.
Lesser black-backed gulls are highly adaptable omnivores, feeding on fish, invertebrates, birds, eggs, refuse, and carrion. They breed in colonies on coastal cliffs, islands, sand dunes, salt marshes, and increasingly on urban rooftops. Colonies are noisy, socially complex, and persist for generations at established sites. Pairs form long-term bonds and show high nest site fidelity.
Urban rooftop nesting of lesser black-backed gulls and herring gulls has become increasingly common and creates a distinctive welfare and management challenge. Gulls nesting on rooftops can be protective and aggressive, and create noise and mess problems for building users. Legal position: all gull nests and eggs are protected during the nesting season; deterrence measures must be implemented before nesting. Proactive deterrence (spikes, netting, wires) is legal and effective when applied before nest establishment.
Lesser black-backed gulls are amber-listed in the UK, with the UK population representing a significant proportion of the European breeding population. While urban populations are stable or increasing, coastal and moorland populations have declined. Causes: changes in fishing industry waste, reduced invertebrate food on moorland, and unknown factors on migration routes.
GPS tracking of lesser black-backed gulls has revealed remarkable migration routes and foraging ranges. Birds from UK colonies have been tracked to Iberia, West Africa, and occasionally further. Tracking data has also revealed unexpected foraging behaviours (following farm machinery, attending landfill sites) and high inter-individual variation in habitat use.