Gulls are seabirds in the family Laridae that are found throughout the world. There are over 50 species of gulls, which vary greatly in size. The smallest gull species have a length of around 25-30 cm (10-12 in) and weigh around 120-180 g (4-6 oz). In this article, we will look at some of the very smallest gull species.
Little Gull
The Little Gull (Hydrocoleus minutus) is one of the smallest gulls in the world. It measures just 25-28 cm (10-11 in) in length and weighs 110-170 g (3.9-6 oz). The wingspan is 53-62 cm (21-24 in). It is a very petite gull with a delicately built appearance.
Some key features of the Little Gull:
- Adults have slate gray upperparts and white underparts
- The head has a black hood in summer, white in winter
- The bill is small and delicate, with a black tip
- Legs are yellowish-green
- In flight, the gray upperwings contrast with translucent white primaries
The Little Gull breeds in marshes and wetlands across northern Eurasia. It winters at sea along coasts from the Mediterranean south to West Africa. The global population is estimated at 110,000-220,000 individuals.
Saunders’s Gull
Another diminutive gull is Saunders’s Gull (Chroicocephalus saundersi), which inhabits inland wetlands in Asia. It measures 24-26 cm (9.5-10 in) and weighs just 100-135 g (3.5-4.8 oz), with a wingspan of 53-59 cm (21-23 in).
Some key features of Saunders’s Gull:
- Gray upperparts, white underparts
- Black hood in summer
- Orange legs and feet
- Fine black bill with yellow tip
- Narrow black ring around the eye
This species breeds at inland lakes across central Asia. It winters in southeast Asia and has a global population estimated at 15,000-30,000 birds.
Black-headed Gull
The Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) is a small-medium sized gull that also measures around 24-26 cm (9.5-10 in) in length. However, this is a heavier-bodied gull that weighs 220-320 g (7.8-11 oz). Wingspan is 77-84 cm (30-33 in).
Some features include:
- Gray upperparts, white underparts
- Hood is chocolate-brown in summer, white in winter
- Red bill and legs
- Black band on the wingtip
This gull breeds across Europe and Asia and winters south to tropical Africa, Southeast Asia, and Australia. Its global population is estimated at 6.2-9.2 million individuals.
Ross’s Gull
Ross’s Gull (Rhodostethia rosea) is another high Arctic species that barely makes the cut as one of the smallest gulls. Length is 24-26 cm (9.5-10 in) and weight is 130-160 g (4.6-5.6 oz), with a wingspan of 60-67 cm (24-26 in).
Some identification features:
- Pale gray upperparts, white underparts
- Black neck collar
- Wedge-shaped tail
- Short black bill with yellow tip
- Pink legs and feet
It breeds in the far north of Arctic regions and migrates long distances, mainly offshore. The global population is only around 10,000-15,000.
Slaty-backed Gull
The Slaty-backed Gull (Larus schistisagus) is another small gull of the north Pacific region. Length is around 28 cm (11 in) and weight about 240-340 g (8.5-12 oz), with a 78-86 cm (31-34 in) wingspan.
Identification features include:
- Slaty gray upperparts
- White head in summer
- Bold black and white wing pattern
- Yellow bill with red spot
- Pink legs
It breeds along the coasts of northeast Asia. The global population is estimated at 110,000-220,000.
Swallow-tailed Gull
The Swallow-tailed Gull (Creagrus furcatus) of the Galapagos Islands and coastal South America is another small gull species. Length is around 25 cm (10 in) and weight about 140-170 g (5-6 oz). Wingspan is 66-73 cm (26-29 in).
Identification features include:
- Dark gray upperparts
- Black head
- White underparts
- Deeply forked tail
- Red orbital ring
- Black bill and legs
The total population is estimated at 10,000-15,000 breeding pairs.
Comparison of Size
To summarize and compare the sizes of these tiny gull species:
| Species | Length (cm) | Weight (g) | Wingspan (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little Gull | 25-28 | 110-170 | 53-62 |
| Saunders’s Gull | 24-26 | 100-135 | 53-59 |
| Black-headed Gull | 24-26 | 220-320 | 77-84 |
| Ross’s Gull | 24-26 | 130-160 | 60-67 |
| Slaty-backed Gull | 28 | 240-340 | 78-86 |
| Swallow-tailed Gull | 25 | 140-170 | 66-73 |
As the table shows, the Little Gull and Saunders’s Gull are the shortest in length, while the Little Gull and Swallow-tailed Gull are the lightest in weight. All of these species measure under 30 cm (12 in) total length.
Why are these gulls so small?
There are a few key reasons why these gull species are on the smaller end of the size spectrum:
- They inhabit specialized niches in extreme environments like the high Arctic where smaller size is advantageous.
- Their small size allows them to be more agile and maneuver better in flight to catch insect prey.
- Their breeding habitat preferences, such as isolated marshes and wetlands, select for smaller size.
- Competition with larger dominant gull species in shared habitats has led to divergent evolution towards smaller size.
- In some cases like the Little Gull and Swallow-tailed Gull, their petite size is believed to be the ancestral condition.
Behavior and Feeding
The smaller size of these gull species influences many aspects of their behavior and feeding habits, such as:
- They are more aerial and agile fliers, often catching insects in flight.
- They are able to swim and float well, allowing them to feed on emergent aquatic invertebrates.
- Their smaller bills allow them to pick small food items off the water’s surface.
- They have more limited kleptoparasitic abilities compared to large gulls.
- They are themselves vulnerable to predation and kleptoparasitism by larger gull species.
Breeding
The tiny size of these gulls also influences their breeding ecology:
- They nest in small colonies or dispersed individual pairs in remote wetland habitats.
- Their nests are tiny scrapes on the ground lined with vegetation.
- Clutch sizes are typically just 2-3 eggs per nest.
- Both parents share incubation duties.
- Chicks hatch precocial and leave the nest shortly after hatching.
Conservation
Some of the smallest gull species have relatively small global populations, making them vulnerable to threats. Conservation concerns include:
- Habitat degradation at breeding colonies and migratory stopover sites.
- Disturbance from human activities.
- Pollution impacts in marine environments.
- Predation by invasive species.
- Climate change effects in the Arctic and other breeding regions.
Fortunately, none of these tiny gulls are currently considered globally threatened. But continued monitoring and habitat protection are needed to ensure their future conservation.
Conclusion
In summary, gull species like the Little Gull, Saunders’s Gull, Black-headed Gull, Ross’s Gull, Slaty-backed Gull, and Swallow-tailed Gull are considered the very smallest gulls in the world. Their diminutive size under 30 cm length is influenced by specialized breeding habitats, aerial foraging behaviors, competition with larger species, and ancestral traits. Despite their petite stature, these tiny gulls undertake impressive long-distance migrations and occupy ecological niches from the Arctic to the tropics. Protecting the habitats of these small but mighty seabirds will be key to their continued survival around the globe.
