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10

Little Gull

(Hydrocoloeus minutus)
German name(s): "Zwergmöwe"
Size: 24-28 cm; wing span: 62-69 cm
Weight: 70-160 g

Similar
species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Little Gull at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

ADULT

Sex unknown

NON-BREEDING

Near-frontal view of a Little Gull in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Dafundo beach, Oeiras, Portugal, November 2017]

Near-lateral view of a Little Gull in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Dafundo beach, Oeiras, Portugal, November 2017]

Near-lateral view of a Little Gull in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Dafundo beach, Oeiras, Portugal, November 2017]

Lateral view of a Little Gull in non-breeding plumage; with their webbed feet they are strong swimmers - note the bow wave the bird is producing (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Morraceira island, Figueira da Foz, Mondego estuary, Portugal, January 2023]

Lateral view of a Little Gull in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Morraceira island, Figueira da Foz, Mondego estuary, Portugal, January 2023]

Lateral view of a Little Gull in non-breeding plumage, here with a view of its underwing (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Morraceira island, Figueira da Foz, Mondego estuary, Portugal, January 2023]

Lateral view of a Little Gull in non-breeding plumage, lying very low in the water (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Morraceira island, Figueira da Foz, Mondego estuary, Portugal, January 2023]

Lateral view of a Little Gull in non-breeding plumage, lying very low in the water and calling (maybe "clear prop"?)... (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Morraceira island, Figueira da Foz, Mondego estuary, Portugal, January 2023]

... before taking off (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Morraceira island, Figueira da Foz, Mondego estuary, Portugal, January 2023]

Dorsal view of a Little Gull in non-breeding plumage, here with a view of its underwing (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Morraceira island, Figueira da Foz, Mondego estuary, Portugal, January 2023]

Near-frontal view of a Little Gull in non-breeding plumage in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Morraceira island, Figueira da Foz, Mondego estuary, Portugal, January 2023]

Near-frontal view of a Little Gull in non-breeding plumage in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Morraceira island, Figueira da Foz, Mondego estuary, Portugal, January 2023]

Near-frontal/ventral view of a Little Gull in non-breeding plumage in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Morraceira island, Figueira da Foz, Mondego estuary, Portugal, January 2023]

Near-lateral view of a Little Gull in non-breeding plumage in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Morraceira island, Figueira da Foz, Mondego estuary, Portugal, January 2023]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Near-lateral view of a first-winter Little Gull in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Morraceira island, Figueira da Foz, Mondego estuary, Portugal, January 2023]

Near-lateral/ventral view of a first-winter Little Gull in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Morraceira island, Figueira da Foz, Mondego estuary, Portugal, January 2023]

Lateral/ventral view of a first-winter Little Gull in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Morraceira island, Figueira da Foz, Mondego estuary, Portugal, January 2023]

Food, Diet

Little Gull in non-breeding plumage picking water bugs off the water surface (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Morraceira island, Figueira da Foz, Mondego estuary, Portugal, January 2023]

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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