As its name suggests, it is the smallest gull in the world, weighing about as much as a stick of butter. It is so petite and agile that from a distance, people often mistake it for a large swallow or a tern. While it shares the “black hood” look with the Chroicocephalus genus, it is actually in a genus of its own (Hydrocoloeus). What technically sets it apart is its inky-black underwing. While most gulls have white or pale grey undersides to their wings, the little gull sports a dramatic, velvety charcoal-black lining that creates a stunning “flash” every time it beats its wings.
What truly separates the little gull from its relatives is its insect-hunting prowess. While larger gulls are scavenging for fish or scraps, the little gull acts like a giant flycatcher. During the summer, they frequent marshes and lakes where they perform incredible “snap-turns” in mid-air to snatch dragonflies, midges, and mayflies right out of the sky. They have a very “humanized” way of foraging on the water, too—they often “patter” their tiny feet on the surface to stir up tiny crustaceans, looking like they are trying to walk on water while delicately picking up their meal.
In terms of personality, the little gull is a bit of a social butterfly. They rarely nest in massive, single-species colonies like kittiwakes. Instead, they prefer to “piggyback” on the colonies of other birds, like black-headed gulls or Arctic terns. They use the larger, more aggressive birds as a “security detail”; when a predator approaches, the bigger gulls do the heavy fighting, while the little gull stays safe in the middle of the crowd. It’s a brilliant “work smarter, not harder” strategy for such a tiny bird.
Distribution
Afghanistan
Albania
Algeria
Angola
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bahrain
Barbados
Belarus
Belgium
Bermuda
Bosnia And Herz.
Bulgaria
Cameroon
Canada
China
Colombia
Croatia
Cyprus
Czechia
Denmark
Egypt
Estonia
Faroe Islands
Finland
France
Gabon
Gambia
Germany
Ghana
Gibraltar
Greece
Greenland
Guinea-Bissau
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Latvia
Lebanon
Libya
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Mauritania
Mexico
Monaco
Mongolia
Montenegro
Morocco
Netherlands
Nigeria
North Macedonia
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Puerto Rico
Romania
Russia
Saint Pierre
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia
Sierra Leone
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sudan
Sweden
Switzerland
Syria
Tunisia
Turkmenistan
Turkey
UAE
Ukraine
United Kingdom
United States
UzbekistanAnything we've missed?
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Terrestrial / Aquatic
Altricial / Precocial
Polygamous / Monogamous
Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic
Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal
Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Flock
Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore
Migratory: Yes / No
Domesticated: Yes / No
Dangerous: Yes / No
