Distribution of the subspecies of the Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus in sub-Saharan Africa

• Published in: Bird Study
• Main Authors: Kylin, Henrik, Bouwman, Henk, Louette, Michel
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences 2011
• Subjects: Bird migration; Silltrut; fågelflyttning; övervintringsområde; Zoology; Zoologi; Ecology; Ekologi; Larus fuscus fuscus; Lesser black-backed gull
• Online Access: http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-73775; https://doi.org/10.1080/00063657.2011.555517

Capsule The wintering area of the nominate subspecies of Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus fuscus is from Ethiopia across Uganda and the Congo basin to the Atlantic, while L. f. intermedius and L. f. graellsii winters in westernmost Africa. Aims To clarify the wintering distributions of the subspecies of Lesser Black-backed Gull. Methods We compiled, mapped, and analyzed available data on ring recoveries (269) and verified museum specimens (22) south of 25°N. Results The wintering area of L. f. fuscus as described in standard reference literature (East Africa) is wrong; more rings have been recovered in the Congo basin and along the Atlantic coast than on the eastern seaboard. L. f. intermedius and L. f. graellsii winter mainly in westernmost Africa with some ring recoveries south and east of Senegal. There are no verifiable finds of the latter two subspecies south of the equator. Ring recoveries suggest leap-frog migration. Conclusions We have updated the distribution of L. f. fuscus, L. f. intermedius and L. f. graellsii in sub-Saharan Africa and found it to be different from previous authorities. Climate change may have a larger effect on L. f. intermedius and L. f. graellsii than on L. f. fuscus.