Lesser Black-backed Gull

The Lesser Black-backed Gull is a medium to large bird that can be told apart from similar gulls by its slate-grey to dark grey back and wings, which stand out against its white head, underside, and tail. Adult birds have yellow legs and a yellow beak with a red spot, while younger birds have brown mottled feathers. When flying, you can see the dark upper wings with a white edge at the back and black wingtips with small white patches. This gull breeds widely across northern and western Europe. In Britain, some birds stay all year, but many travel to Spain, Portugal, and West Africa during the winter. Birds from mainland Europe often pass through Britain when migrating. The Lesser Black-backed Gull lives mainly in coastal areas and estuaries, but it is also found more and more in towns. It nests in groups on coastal cliffs, islands, open moorland, and flat rooftops. Outside the breeding season, it can be seen at harbours, rubbish dumps, farmland, and reservoirs, often mixing with other large gulls when looking for food or resting.