Lesser Black-backed (Heuglin’s) Gull Did you see this animal?
Scientific Name : Larus fuscus
Family : Laridae
Order : Charadriiformes
Class : Aves
Phylum : Chordata
Other Name : Herring Gull
Habitat : Coast
Description : The Heuglin’s Gull is a large, long-winged, dark grey water bird (adult bird length approximately 60 cm). The adult looks dark grey from above and white from below. First winter birds have a dark brownish body, dark brownish underwing-coverts. The gull-billed tern is known for its colonial breeding behavior, establishing colonies along coastal regions and lakes. They build nests either on the ground or on cliffs, and these nests are often lined with materials. Typically, the tern lays a clutch of three eggs during the breeding season.
Interestingly, in certain urban areas, this species has adapted to the urban environment and can be found nesting there, often in the company of herring gulls. The gull-billed tern has a diverse diet, consuming various types of food including fish, insects, crustaceans, worms, starfish, mollusks, seeds, berries, small mammals, eggs, small birds, chicks, scraps, offal, and carrion.
Interestingly, in certain urban areas, this species has adapted to the urban environment and can be found nesting there, often in the company of herring gulls. The gull-billed tern has a diverse diet, consuming various types of food including fish, insects, crustaceans, worms, starfish, mollusks, seeds, berries, small mammals, eggs, small birds, chicks, scraps, offal, and carrion.
Distribution in Bangladesh
Other Species from Group
-
Gelochelidon nilotica
(Common Gull‑billed Tern) -
Thalasseus sandvicensis
(Sandwich Tern) -
Sterna aurantia
(River Tern) -
Rynchops albicollis
(Indian Skimmer) -
Thalasseus bengalensis
(Lesser Crested Tern) -
Sterna hirundo
(Common Tern) -
Rissa tridactyla
(Black-legged Kittiwake) -
Chroicocephalus ridibundus
((Common) Black‑headed Gull) -
Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus
(Pallas’s (Great Black‑headed ) Gull) -
Chlidonias hybrida
(Whiskered Tern)
Species groups
-
Bee-eaters -
Booby -
frigatebird -
phalarope -
tropicbird -
Martins and Swallows -
Crows, Drongos & allies -
Woodpeckers -
Eared Nightjars -
Ibises & Spoonbills -
Trogons -
Coucals -
Pelicans -
Darters -
Gulls -
Warblers and allies -
Flowerpeckers & Sunbirds -
Sparrows, Wagtails, Pipits a& allies -
moonbird -
Hawks & Eagles -
Snipes, Sandpipers, Plovers & allies -
Small Kingfishers -
Cisticola & Prinia -
Plovers & Lapwings -
Rails, Gallinules & Coots -
Tits -
Parrots -
Rosefinches and Buntings -
Bustards -
Grebes -
Pheasants & Partridges -
Old World flycatcher -
Starlings and Mynas -
Hornbills -
Buttonquails -
Rollers -
Bluebirds -
Crested Kingfishers -
Cormorants -
Pigeons and Doves -
Jacanas -
Typical Owl -
Finfoots &booby -
Flamingo -
Herons and Bitterns -
Treecreepers -
Nuthatch -
Barbets -
Treeswifts -
Swifts -
Crab-plovers, Coursers and Pratincoles -
Bulbuls -
Frogmouths -
Larks -
Storks -
Broadbills -
Thick-knees -
Painted-snipes -
Nightjars -
Barn-owls -
Large-billed Kingfishers -
Falcons -
Pittas -
Cranes -
Whistling-ducks -
Ducks, Geese & Swans -
Hoopoe
References:
description written by:Fatema-Tuz-Zohora,Department of Zoology, Jagannath University,Dhaka;information source: Encyclopedia of Flora and Fauna of Bangladesh, Vol-26, iucnredlist.org;taxonomic checklist:P. M. Thompson and S. U. Chowdhury (2020). A checklist of birds of Bangladesh.Birds Bangladesh;photo credit: Andrew (www.inaturalist.org/people/Andrew ),photo shared from iNaturalist, photo copyright reserved according to iNaturalist rules;more information, please contact us.
description written by:Fatema-Tuz-Zohora,Department of Zoology, Jagannath University,Dhaka;information source: Encyclopedia of Flora and Fauna of Bangladesh, Vol-26, iucnredlist.org;taxonomic checklist:P. M. Thompson and S. U. Chowdhury (2020). A checklist of birds of Bangladesh.Birds Bangladesh;photo credit: Andrew (www.inaturalist.org/people/Andrew ),photo shared from iNaturalist, photo copyright reserved according to iNaturalist rules;more information, please contact us.