Lesser Black-backed Gull
Lesser Black-backed GullLesser Black-backed GullLesser Black-backed GullLesser Black-backed Gull

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Larus fuscus

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Insufficient data
overall probability at Channel Islands National Park
4 Verified records at Channel Islands National Park
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The lesser black-backed gull (Larus fuscus) is a large gull that breeds on the Atlantic and Arctic coasts of Europe. It is migratory, wintering from the British Isles south to West Africa. However, it has increased dramatically in North America, especially along the east coast. Formerly just a winter visitor to North America, it now occurs in large numbers some winters and birds are recorded year-round. However, there is serious concern about decline in many parts of its range. The species is on the UK Amber List because the UK is home to 40 per cent of the European population and more than half of these are found at fewer than ten breeding sites. Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Channel Islands National Park

Western Gull
LC

Western Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Larus occidentalis

70–80% · Very likely
California Gull
LC

California Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Larus californicus

30–40% · Possible
Heermann's Gull
NT

Heermann's Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Larus heermanni

20–30% · Possible
Ring-billed Gull
LC

Ring-billed Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Larus delawarensis

20–30% · Possible
Glaucous-winged Gull
LC

Glaucous-winged Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Larus glaucescens

5–10% · Rare
American Herring Gull
LC

American Herring Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Larus smithsonianus

5–10% · Rare
Short-billed Gull

Short-billed Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Larus brachyrhynchus

<5% · Rare
Iceland Gull
LC

Iceland Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Larus glaucoides

<5% · Rare
Elegant Tern
NT

Elegant Tern

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Thalasseus elegans

20–30% · Possible
Forster's Tern
LC

Forster's Tern

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sterna forsteri

10–20% · With luck
Royal Tern

Royal Tern

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Thalasseus maximus

10–20% · With luck
Caspian Tern
LC

Caspian Tern

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Hydroprogne caspia

10–20% · With luck

📅 Monthly Probability

📊

Fewer than 5 records of Lesser Black-backed Gull at Channel Islands National Park — not enough to chart months honestly.

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Thingvellir National Park 🇮🇸 Iceland
50–60%
2 Wadden Sea National Park 🇩🇪 Germany
30–40%
3 Snowdonia National Park 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
20–30%
4 Doñana National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
20–30%
5 Vatnajokull National Park 🇮🇸 Iceland
20–30%
6 Sierra de Guadarrama National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
20–30%
7 Lake Nakuru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
10–20%
8 Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
10–20%
9 Point Pelee National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
5–10%
10 Cairngorms National Park 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
5–10%
11 Celestún Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
5–10%
12 Queen Elizabeth National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
13 Everglades National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
14 Monfragüe National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
<5%
15 Cape Breton Highlands National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
16 Hortobágy National Park 🇭🇺 Hungary
<5%
17 Fertő-Hanság National Park 🇭🇺 Hungary
<5%
18 Acadia National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
19 Kiskunság National Park 🇭🇺 Hungary
<5%
20 Białowieża National Park 🇵🇱 Poland
<5%
21 Virunga National Park 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo
<5%
22 Biebrza National Park 🇵🇱 Poland
<5%
23 Gros Morne National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
24 Ngorongoro Conservation Area 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
25 Aigüestortes National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
<5%
26 Nyungwe National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
<5%
27 Sundarbans National Park 🇮🇳 India
<5%
28 Sierra Nevada National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
<5%
29 Serengeti National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
30 Pyrénées National Park 🇫🇷 France
<5%
31 La Amistad International Park (Panama) 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
32 Los Haitises National Park 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic
Insufficient data
33 Jaragua National Park 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic
Insufficient data
34 Keoladeo National Park 🇮🇳 India
Insufficient data
35 El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
36 Tortuguero National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
37 Garden Route National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
Insufficient data
38 Cévennes National Park 🇫🇷 France
Insufficient data
39 Bavarian Forest National Park 🇩🇪 Germany
Insufficient data
40 Lake Manyara National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
41 Murchison Falls National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
Insufficient data
42 Kafue National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
Insufficient data
43 Gauja National Park 🇱🇻 Latvia
Insufficient data
44 Big Cypress National Preserve 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
45 Ranthambore National Park 🇮🇳 India
Insufficient data
46 Ciénaga de Zapata 🇨🇺 Cuba
Insufficient data
47 Rocky Mountain National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
48 Channel Islands National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
49 Glacier National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
50 Tsavo East National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
Insufficient data
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