Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus)

This species has become fairly common (used to be rare) and regular along the NC Outer Banks, where it's not unusual to see 25 or more in a day along the beaches. It's rare inland, however, and uncommon on NC beaches south of the Outer Banks.

	Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) Dare Co., NC 3 Nov 2005 This is a 3rd winter bird. Note that it's finally losing the black bill, but its legs are not yet fully yellow. This picture was digiscoped.
	Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) Cape Hatteras, Dare Co., NC 21 Feb 2009 Immatures show fairly pale mottled underparts and a whitish head contrasting with dark brown wings & back and a broad black tail tip band.
	Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) Cape Hatteras, Dare Co., NC 21 Feb 2009 Compared to Herring Gulls (adult left and immature bottom), Lesser Black-backed Gulls (upper right) are a bit smaller with a slimmer build and relatively long narrow wings.

	Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) Cape Hatteras, Dare Co., NC 20 Feb 2010 Near adult plumage, but note a few dusky spots still in tail.sa
	Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) Cape Hatteras, Dare Co., NC 20 Feb 2010 Third winter birds are usually recognized by black spots in tail. Legs may or may not be fully yellow by 3rd winter, and the bill may show varying amounts of black.
	Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) Cape Hatteras, Dare Co., NC 20 Feb 2010 Third winter bird showing few adult-like characteristics than the bird above.
	Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) Cape Hatteras, Dare Co., NC 20 Feb 2010 Second winter birds have less body streaking and cleaner undertail coverts than first winter birds (below).
	Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) Cape Hatteras, Dare Co., NC 20 Feb 2010 First winter birds are heavinly mottled below with streaked undertail coverts.

	Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Larus fuscus) Cape Hatteras, Dare Co., NC 23 Oct 2014 Lesser Black-backed Gulls used to be hard to find along the Carolina coast. In these two photos, however, it is the most abundant species! We counted 600 of them at Cape Point on this day.
	Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Larus fuscus) Cape Hatteras, Dare Co., NC 23 Oct 2014

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus)
Ebenezer Point, Jordan Lake, Chatham Co., NC
28 Jan 2015

This Lesser Black-backed Gull rests on the beach amidst Ring-billed and Herring Gulls.

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Created on ... November 8, 2005 | jeffpippen9@gmail.com