Nominate Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Lams fuscus fuscus) winter in the Congo basin

Abstract

After observing several nominate Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Larus fuscus fuscus) on Lake Tumba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, literature and museum studies were reviewed to compile observations of the species in the Congo basin. The Congo basin appears to be an important wintering area for these birds that are dispersed widely but thinly throughout the large network of rivers. Clearly, difficulties in performing fieldwork in the basin have, thus far, left this wintering area unrecognized. We suggest that the main wintering area for Lf fuscus covers an area from the Rift Valley lakes westward into the Congo basin and, contrary to the mainstream literature, only a small proportion of the population winter on the East African coast.