Little Gull Larus minutus
- IdentificationVisual tips about this species
- BehaviourHabitat, behaviour, and food
- PopulationSubspecies and numbers
- ReproductionNesting and eggs
Identification
The Little Gull is the world's smallest gull and this delightfully delicate bird is always a joy to see. Adults in winter plumage differ from Black-headed Gulls in their small size, smaller black bill and the smoky patch on the crown and dark grey underwing. Little Gulls have a buoyant flight and sometimes flutter to pick insects from the water like marsh terns. Second-year birds lose the black 'W' on the upperwing, and now show the same striking underwing pattern as an adult - smoky black except for a broad white line around the trailing edge. Adults in summer plumage have a complete black hood over the head.
Ageing
A three-year gull. Juveniles have a brownish-black heavily scalloped mantle, which becomes plain grey in first winter plumage. As these birds reach their first summer they develop an imperfect black hood and the bold 'W' in their wings begins to fade. Second winter birds are like non-breeding adults, except for 2-6 sub-terminal dark markings on the outer primaries.
Voice
Their hard 'kyeh' calls are more likely to be mistaken for a tern.
Sexing
Sexes similar.
Length
27cm
Behaviour
Behaviour...
Migration
Migrates to the western seaboards of Europe when not breeding in winter. Some visit the Black Sea and the southern Caspian Sea and over 50 000 have been counted wintering in the Nile Delta (Egypt). Passage birds occur in Britain during spring and autumn.
Habitat
Breeds and winters on estuaries, lakes and coasts.
Food
Small fish, crustaceans and flying insects.
Population trends
Numbers are increasing in the core breeding areas. For example in Finland and in parts of Russia, the population has risen by over 50% since 1970.
Subspecies
Monotypic.
Population in Britain and Ireland
About 150-350 Little Gulls winter off the Irish coast with a similar number in the North Sea. Pairs have got as far as laying eggs in Norfolk in 1975 and 1978, at Fairburn Ings, Yorkshire in 1978 and at a locality in central England in 1987, but none have yet bred successfully in Britain.
Where in Britain and Ireland
A regular and widespread passage migrant, with most birds occurring July to October. Mostly seen in small numbers are seen, mainly around the coast but with some inland. Some birds winter. Large numbers usually occur in autumn on Hornsea Mere in east Yorkshire and Seaforth in Merseyside.
Where in Europe
Most easily seen as a breeding bird in Scandinavia, for example at Liminka Bay or Kuusamo (Finland). A few pairs also breed in Holland and Denmark. They are, however, much more numerous on passage with large numbers at favoured sites (eg several thousand at Lacul Beibugeac in Romania)
Best UK Site
Seaforth NR/Crosby Marine Lake - Merseyside The peak arrival of Little Gulls at both these neighbouring sites is determined by the hatching of the Chironomid midges on which they feed over the freshwater pools. In recent years, these have hatched in mid April and up to 300 Little Gulls have been present. They disperse in early May and sightings throughout the rest of the year are rather sporadic. Seaforth NR is accessed via the Freeport entrance on the A565 Liverpool-Southport Road (Crosby Road South), whilst Crosby Marina is first left at the traffic lights north of the Freeport entrance and at the end of the road. [Taken from the book 'Finding Birds in Britain' by Lee Evans, which includes details of more sites for this species]
Nests
Colonial on ground. Create a hollow, lined with vegitgation.
Eggs
3, pale green with black blotches, laid in May to June. Incubation takes 20-21 days. Young fledge after 21-24 days. 1 brood per year.
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