Hydrocoloeus minutus
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Mass
~120 g
Habitat
Coastal areas
Diet
Fish and aquatic animals
How to recognize it
The Little Gull is a very small, light-looking gull with quick, fluttering flight. In breeding plumage, the dark head and short, slender red bill make it especially memorable.
It moves briskly and often switches between active wingbeats and easier gliding. Its voice is musical and rhythmic, while alarm notes are drier and sharper.
In the breeding season it uses shallow freshwater lakes, marshes, and river floodplains, then shifts to sea coasts in winter. It feeds on small aquatic and land invertebrates, catches insects in the air, and also takes small fish and tiny crustaceans.
Quick Facts
The Little Gull is a very small, light-looking gull with quick, fluttering flight. In breeding plumage, the dark head and short, slender red bill make it especially memorable.
It moves briskly and often switches between active wingbeats and easier gliding. Its voice is musical and rhythmic, while alarm notes are drier and sharper.
In the breeding season it uses shallow freshwater lakes, marshes, and river floodplains, then shifts to sea coasts in winter. It feeds on small aquatic and land invertebrates, catches insects in the air, and also takes small fish and tiny crustaceans.
