Thursday, January 16, 2020

Lesser Black-Backed Gull

The lesser black-backed gull (Larus fuscus) differs from the great black-backed gull as follows: (a) it has yellow, rather than pinkish legs; (b) smaller white mirrors at the wing tips; (c) it has a slimmer build; and (d) it is smaller. Like the great black-backed gull, the bill is yellow with a red spot. 

There are five subspecies, and L. f. graellsii, which is found in Greenland, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, the British Isles and western Europe has a gray mantle (the upperparts between the base of the nape and the rump). We saw these lesser black-backed gulls near Reykjavik, Iceland. 

3 comments:

  1. Crazy wing position in that last photo.

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  2. Interesting, not sure I would be able to tell the difference.

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    Replies
    1. The most obvious difference is the pink vs. yellow feet.

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