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The Lesser black-backed gull (Larus fuscus) is a bird found in United Kingdom, United States, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Spain, and 4 more countries. Coasts, lakes and fields across Europe. It eats insects and other small invertebrates, fish and small mammals and birds. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

🏡 Where the Lesser black-backed gull lives

Coasts, lakes and fields across Europe.

🍽️ What it eats

• 🐛 Insects & bugs30%
• 🐟 Fish30%
• 🐭 Mammals & birds20%
• 🦴 Leftovers (carrion)10%
• 🍎 Fruit10%

A rough guide to its diet over a year. Source: EltonTraits (Wilman et al. 2014).

Conservation status

Hear the Lesser black-backed gull

Recorded by Lars Edenius (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0), xeno-canto XC1022098. Trimmed to a few seconds.

Questions about the Lesser black-backed gull

Where does the Lesser black-backed gull live?

The Lesser black-backed gull lives in United Kingdom, United States, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Spain, and 4 more countries. Coasts, lakes and fields across Europe.

What does the Lesser black-backed gull eat?

insects and other small invertebrates (about 30%), fish (about 30%), small mammals and birds (about 20%), dead animals (carrion) (about 10%), fruit (about 10%). These are rough shares of its diet over a year, from the EltonTraits database.

Is the Lesser black-backed gull endangered?

There are plenty of these birds. Its IUCN Red List category is Least Concern.

More birds from Europe

• Mallard
• European Robin
• Mute Swan
• White Stork
• Barn Swallow
• Great Tit

Sources: IUCN Red List (via Wikidata), EltonTraits 1.0 (Wilman et al. 2014), GBIF sightings for countries, Wikipedia. Last updated 2026-10-19.