Pallas’s Gull

Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus

Pallas's Gull (Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of Europe & Northern Asia.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 18 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Germany Birds of Spain Birds of India Birds of Japan Birds of Kenya Birds of Portugal Birds of Thailand Birds of the United States Birds of Alaska

By family

Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Germany Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Spain Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of India Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Japan Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Kenya Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Portugal Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Thailand Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of the United States Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Alaska

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The Pallas’s Gull (Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus) is a member of the Laridae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 1.4 kg.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Charadriiformes
Family Laridae Gulls, Terns, Skimmers
Genus Ichthyaetus
Species ichthyaetus

Where it lives

Patchily on lake islands from Crimea to Kazakhstan, western, southern Mongolia, Gansu, Qinghai and Inner Mongolia (western, central China)

Europe & Northern Asia

Quick facts

Weight: 1.4 kg
Diet: Omnivores
Family: Laridae
Order: Charadriiformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Least Concern

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Pallas’s Gull is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.

Behaviour

A bird of coastal habitats, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.

Migration

The Pallas’s Gull is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

The Pallas’s Gull (Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus) is a species of bird in the Laridae family, part of the order Charadriiformes. Its range spans Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL patchily on lake islands from Crimea to Kazakhstan, w, s Mongolia, Gansu, Qinghai and Inner Mongolia (w, c China).

It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.4 kg, with a wing length of about 47.1 cm and a tail of around 17.3 cm.

Songs & calls

Pallas’s Gull — Flight call

Recorded by Frank Lambert Licence: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Pallas’s Gull?

The Pallas’s Gull is a very large bird that weighs around 1.4 kg.

Where does the Pallas’s Gull live?

The Pallas’s Gull is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL patchily on lake islands from Crimea to Kazakhstan, w, s Mongolia, Gansu, Qinghai and Inner Mongolia (w, c China), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the Pallas’s Gull belong to?

The Pallas’s Gull (Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus) belongs to the Laridae family, in the order Charadriiformes.

What does the Pallas’s Gull eat?

The Pallas’s Gull is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.

Does the Pallas’s Gull migrate?

The Pallas’s Gull is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

What sound does the Pallas’s Gull make?

1 real field recording of the Pallas’s Gull — including its flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.