Lesser Black-backed Gull
Larus fuscus
Length 53-56cm

Similar proportions to herring gull but most adult birds easily told by dark grey back and upperwings. Because precise tone varies, yellow legs are best diagnostic features; bill yellow with orange spot near tip. In flight, upperwing colour usually a shade paler than black wingtips. Juvenile closely resembles other large gull juveniles with mottled brown plumage; acquires adult plumage over subsequent two years. A very locally common, colonial breeding species, mostly on W and N coasts of Britain and Ireland. A partial migrant, numbers in winter boosted by birds from N Europe. Mainly coastal but also inland on fields.