Lesser Black-backed Gull

Scientific Name: Larus fuscus
Malay Name: Camar-Titik Erasia
Chinese Name: 小黑背银鸥

Range:
Breeds in North America and the western Palearctic. Winters along the coasts from west Africa, the middle east, and the Indian subcontinent. Rare in east and southeast Asia.

Taxonomy:
Polytypic. Subspecies are: graellsii, intermedius, fuscus, heuglini, barabensis.

Local Subspecies: heuglini

Size: 58-65cm

Identification:
From other gulls that have been recorded in Singapore before: Bigger than the Black-headed and Brown-headed Gulls, lacking the black ear coverts present in those two species. Bill yellow, with red base near the tip. Separation of this species from the other Larus gulls (Slaty-backed Gull and Black-tailed Gull being very unlikely, but possible species in Singapore) requires careful examination.

Similar looking species: Brown-headed Gull, Black-headed Gull

Habitat: Coastal areas, open seas.

Behaviour/Ecology:

Local Status: Very rare vagrant

Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2019)

Featured articles:

• Bird List Revision for September 2021 – Special Edition (Revisions)

Past accepted records in our database:

Lesser Black-backed Gull at Straits of Singapore. Photo Credit: Francis Yap

Lesser Black-backed Gull at Singapore Strait. Photo credit: Francis Yap

Lesser Black-backed Gull at Singapore Strait. Photo credit: Francis Yap

Lesser Black-backed Gull at Singapore Strait. Photo credit: Francis Yap