North American field guide

Little Gull

Hydrocoloeus minutus

Explore this bird

Identification

Field notes

28 cm (11") Uncommon. European species now breeding around Great Lakes and at Churchill, Manitoba; winter visitor on east coast. Smallest gull - Robin-sized. Buoyant, tern-like flight. Solid black head - no eye-ring; small black bill; white underparts and tail; pale gray mantle, white wing tips, underside of wings blackish; red legs.

Winter adult similar, but head white with dusky cap and small dark spot behind eye.

Song: soft "kek-kek-kek-kek".

Details in the field

Photo gallery

5 photos

Credit: Dave Curtis

Credit: Ómar Runólfsson

Credit: Isidro Vila Verde

Credit: Ekaterina Papchinskaya

Watch and learn

Videos

2 videos

Little Gull in flight, Isle of Man. DSLR Video

Credit: Manx Wildlife Videos

Little Gull (Larus minutus)

Credit: RemekMeel

Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant 2 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Little Gull

2 rules

Rule 1 14 criteria confidence 2

What colour were the LEGS or FEET ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Square or slightly notched at the end · Rounded at the end · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Hooked · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?: Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Robin-sized · Pigeon-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Gull-like, or a Seabird
WHEN was the bird seen ?: Spring · Summer · Fall
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Northeastern Canada or United States · Southeastern United States

result:544-little-gull:1:1 Source: 544 Little Gull, row 1

Rule 2 13 criteria confidence 2

What colour were the LEGS or FEET ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Square or slightly notched at the end · Rounded at the end · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Hooked · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?: Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Robin-sized · Pigeon-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Gull-like, or a Seabird
WHEN was the bird seen ?: Winter
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Northeastern Canada or United States · Southeastern United States

result:544-little-gull:2:1 Source: 544 Little Gull, row 2