Scandinavian Lesser Black-backed Gull
VU

Scandinavian Lesser Black-backed Gull

Larus fuscus

UnknownLCEULCEU

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesser_black-backed_gull

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The Scandinavian Lesser Black-backed Gull faces significant population declines across its breeding range, with numbers dropping by over 30% in recent decades. Climate change is altering marine food webs, reducing the availability of key prey species like herring and sprat during critical breeding periods. Coastal development and human disturbance at traditional nesting colonies have forced populations into suboptimal breeding sites, while pollution from marine plastics and chemical contaminants affects reproductive success.

Threat summary

Habitat

This subspecies breeds primarily on rocky islands, coastal cliffs, and moorland areas across Scandinavia, with some populations nesting on rooftops in urban coastal areas. During winter, they migrate to coastal waters of western Europe and Africa, frequenting harbors, estuaries, and offshore marine environments.

FRESHWATER· majorMARINE· majorTERRESTRIAL· major

Other threatened species in Laridae

Greater Black-backed GullVU

Greater Black-backed Gull

Larus marinus

Unknown
Caspian TernCR

Caspian Tern

Hydroprogne caspia

Unknown
Little GullCR

Little Gull

Hydrocoloeus minutus

Unknown
Olrog's GullEN

Olrog's Gull

Larus atlanticus

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Scandinavian Lesser Black-backed Gull classified as Vulnerable?
Scandinavian Lesser Black-backed Gull is classified as Vulnerable because the population is declining and the species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future if current pressures continue. The Scandinavian Lesser Black-backed Gull faces significant population declines across its breeding range, with numbers dropping by over 30% in recent decades. Climate change is altering marine food webs, reducing the availability of key prey species like herring and sprat during critical breeding periods. Coastal development and human disturbance at traditional nesting colonies have forced populations into suboptimal breeding sites, while pollution from marine plastics and chemical contaminants affects reproductive success.
Where does Scandinavian Lesser Black-backed Gull live?
Scandinavian Lesser Black-backed Gull occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Scandinavian Lesser Black-backed Gull?
The main threats to Scandinavian Lesser Black-backed Gull are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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