# Little Gull (*Hydrocoloeus minutus*) The Little Gull is a small, graceful bird that loves to fly over water. It has a pretty black head and white body, making it easy to spot while it glides and dives for food. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Coastal areas ![Little Gull](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Bird_Yyterin_lietteet_4.jpg&width=800) Photo: kallerna, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bird_Yyterin_lietteet_4.jpg) ## Appearance The Little Gull is the smallest gull species, featuring a delicate build and rounded wings. Adults in breeding plumage have a distinctive entirely black head, blood-red legs, and a small dark bill. Its unique smoky-grey underwings contrast sharply with its white body, making it easily identifiable. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Charadriiformes - **Family:** Laridae - **Genus:** Hydrocoloeus ## Interesting facts - Sometimes they join huge flocks of other birds to hunt for insects! - The Little Gull is the smallest gull in the entire world! - They often hunt by dipping their head under the water's surface while flying! - Young Little Gulls have a distinctive black 'W' pattern across their wings! ## Special abilities - **Aerial Acrobat:** Little Gulls can swiftly catch insects in mid-air because of their agile flight and pointed wings. - **Surface Skimmer:** Little Gulls can snatch tiny prey from the water's surface that helps them find food without diving deep. - **Long-Distance Traveler:** Little Gulls have strong wings and an efficient flight style that helps them migrate thousands of kilometers. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 25-27 cm - **Wingspan:** 60-70 cm - **Weight:** 0.06-0.16 kg - **Lifespan:** 5-10 years - **Speed:** 45 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 2-4 - **Incubation:** 22-24 days - **Migration Distance:** 4000 km ## Diet & Feeding They feast on small fish, aquatic insects, and crustaceans, snatching them from water. - **Age differences:** Young birds consume mainly insects, while adults have a more varied diet. - **Primary Foods:** Small fish, Aquatic insects, Crustaceans, Marine worms, Insect larvae - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Great Black-backed Gull](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-black-backed-gull) (*Larus marinus*) — Larger gulls prey on smaller ones. - **Eaten by:** [Peregrine Falcon](https://www.snappit.app/explore/peregrine-falcon) (*Falco peregrinus*) — Hunts gulls in its territory. - **Eaten by:** [Red Fox](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-fox) (*Vulpes vulpes*) — Preys on eggs and chicks. - **Depends on:** Water Flea (*Daphnia magna*) — A key food source for gulls. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Aerial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aerial): Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting. - [Filter Feeder](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/filter-feeder): Filter feeders obtain nutrients by straining suspended food particles and small organisms from water. - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch birds from a distance and don't try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Little Gull? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Little Gull? 25-27 cm ### What is Little Gull's wingspan? 60-70 cm ### How much does Little Gull weigh? 0.06-0.16 kg ### How long does Little Gull live? 5-10 years ### How fast can Little Gull move? 45 km/h ### What does Little Gull eat? They feast on small fish, aquatic insects, and crustaceans, snatching them from water. ### Where is Little Gull usually found? Coastal areas ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Little Gull: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/little-gull)