Status of Greenland Populations of Great Black-Backed Gull (Larus marinus), Lesser Black-Backed Gull (Larus fuscus) and Herring Gull (Larus argentatus)

Abstract

Abstract. Great Black-backed (Larus marinus), Lesser Black-backed (L. fuscus) and Herring (L. argentatus) gulls have all shown population increases and range expansion in Greenland in recent decades, but in very different ways. Great Black-backed Gulls increased from at least the 1960s from an established, local population. Lesser Black-backed Gulls immigrated from Iceland in the 1980s, spread rapidly over most of the southern part of Greenland and are common and abundant today. Herring Gulls also immigrated in the 1980s, but only established a small, scattered, and, at many sites, irregular breeding population. Here, we present the most recent information on the status and trends of Great Black-backed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull and Herring Gull populations in Greenland.