Photo: Angie from Sawara, Chiba-ken, Japan / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Black-tailed Gull
Larus crassirostris
Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris) is a member of the Laridae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 561 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Charadriiformes
- Family Laridae Gulls, Terns, Skimmers
- Genus Larus
- Species crassirostris
Where it lives
Coasts and islets of eastern Siberia, Sakhalin and Kuril Is. (southeastern Russia), Hokkaido and Honshu (northern, central Japan), Korean Pen., eastern China and Matsu Is. (=Lienchiang County; west of Taiwan)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 561 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Laridae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black-tailed Gull hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of coastal habitats, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Black-tailed Gull is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris) is a member of the Laridae family, within the order Charadriiformes. Its range spans Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL coasts and islets of e Siberia, Sakhalin and Kuril Is. (se Russia), Hokkaido and Honshu (n, c Japan), Korean Pen., e China and Matsu Is. (=Lienchiang County; w of Taiwan).
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 561 g, with a wing length of about 36.4 cm and a tail of around 13.5 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 188,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black-tailed Gull?
The Black-tailed Gull is a large bird that weighs around 561 g.
Where does the Black-tailed Gull live?
The Black-tailed Gull is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL coasts and islets of e Siberia, Sakhalin and Kuril Is. (se Russia), Hokkaido and Honshu (n, c Japan), Korean Pen., e China and Matsu Is. (=Lienchiang County; w of Taiwan), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Black-tailed Gull belong to?
The Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris) belongs to the Laridae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Black-tailed Gull eat?
The Black-tailed Gull hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Black-tailed Gull migrate?
The Black-tailed Gull is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Black-tailed Gull endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Black-tailed Gull make?
1 real field recording of the Black-tailed Gull — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Black-tailed Gull's range?
The Black-tailed Gull has a mapped global range of about 188,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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