Little Gull
Hydrocoloeus minutus
Little Gull (Hydrocoloeus minutus) — 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 Little Gull (Hydrocoloeus minutus) is a member of the Laridae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 118 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 Hydrocoloeus
- Species minutus
Where it lives
Baltic region of eastern, northern Europe to western Siberia and northern Kazakhstan, northwestern, north-central Mongolia (rare); Siberia east of Lake Baikal to Sea of Okhotsk and northeastern China; rare Great Lakes, Hudson and James bays (east-central Canada)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 118 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Laridae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Little Gull hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of coastal habitats, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Little Gull is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Little Gull (Hydrocoloeus minutus) is a species of bird in the Laridae family, part of the order Charadriiformes. It is found across Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL Baltic region of e, n Europe to w Siberia and n Kazakhstan, nw, nc Mongolia (rare); Siberia e of Lake Baikal to Sea of Okhotsk and ne China; rare Great Lakes, Hudson and James bays (ec Canada).
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 118 g, with a wing length of about 21.9 cm and a tail of around 8.9 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 8.3 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Little Gull?
The Little Gull is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 118 g.
Where does the Little Gull live?
The Little Gull is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL Baltic region of e, n Europe to w Siberia and n Kazakhstan, nw, nc Mongolia (rare); Siberia e of Lake Baikal to Sea of Okhotsk and ne China; rare Great Lakes, Hudson and James bays (ec Canada), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Little Gull belong to?
The Little Gull (Hydrocoloeus minutus) belongs to the Laridae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Little Gull eat?
The Little Gull hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Little Gull migrate?
The Little Gull is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Little 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 Little Gull make?
1 real field recording of the Little Gull — including its flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Little Gull's range?
The Little Gull has a mapped global range of about 8.3 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Laridae
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
More in Shorebirds
Endangered
Not Evaluated
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern