The little gull (Hydrocoloeus minutus) is a small gull that breeds in northern Europe and Asia. It is the smallest gull species in the world. The little gull gets its name from its petite size, with a body length of just 28-33 cm and a wingspan of 67-78 cm. Despite its small stature, the little gull is a strong flier, breeding in inland marshes and wetlands across a wide range. In this article, we will explore the identification, distribution, migration, diet, breeding, and conservation status of the little gull.
Identification
The little gull is the smallest gull species in the world. It has a slender, tern-like appearance, with a black head and bill in the breeding season. Its wings are narrow and pointed. Here are some key identification features of the little gull:
– Size – Just 28-33 cm in length with a 67-78 cm wingspan. Significantly smaller than other common gulls.
– Plumage – In breeding plumage, the head is completely black. The body is pale gray above and white below. The wings have black wingtips. In nonbreeding plumage, the head is white with dark smudging around the eye.
– Bill – Thin and black in breeding plumage. More yellowish in winter.
– Legs – Short black legs.
– Wings – Long, pointed wings with black wingtips. In flight, the wings appear very slender.
– Voice – A high-pitched, laughing call, sounding like “kyow-kyow-kyow”.
So in summary, the combination of its very small size, black head, slender pointed wings, and dainty appearance help identify the little gull. It is unlikely to be confused with any other gull species when seen well.
Distribution
The little gull has a wide breeding distribution across northern Europe and Asia:
– Europe – Breeds in northern and eastern Europe including Iceland, Scandinavia, northern Russia, and the Baltic region.
– Asia – Breeds across Siberia to Kamchatka and northern China. Breeding range extends as far east as Alaska.
– Migratory – Most populations migrate south for the winter. European birds winter along the coasts of western Europe. Asian breeders migrate down to coasts of China, Korea, and Japan.
So in summary, the little gull occupies a broad breeding range across northern latitudes from Iceland to Alaska. It is migratory, traveling south to milder coastal areas for the winter. The species does not breed or winter in the lower 48 United States.
Migration
The little gull undertakes long migrations between its northerly breeding grounds and southerly wintering areas. Key aspects of its migration include:
– Long distances – Migrates thousands of miles between Arctic/subarctic breeding areas to wintering grounds further south in Western Europe and East Asia.
– Coastal route – Migrates along coastlines of Atlantic Europe and East Asia. Less commonly seen inland.
– Soaring flight – Makes use of thermals and updrafts to soar and glide during migration, minimizing flapping flight. This saves energy during the long journey.
– Large flocks – Migrates in large flocks of 50 to over 1,000 birds. Safety in numbers.
– Young first – Juveniles begin migration before adults. Adults stay later to finish raising young.
– Slow and short flights – Migration includes many short hops and stops to rest and feed. Makes slow but steady progress south or north.
So in summary, the little gull is a champion long-distance migrant that uses coastal routes and soaring flight to traverse thousands of miles between its breeding and wintering grounds. The migration is done over many weeks in large flocks.
Diet
The little gull is an opportunistic feeder, eating a varied diet based on the abundant food sources available:
– Insects – Feeds extensively on insects caught in flight or picked from the water surface. Mainly flies, moths, beetles, dragonflies.
– Small fish – Will readily eat small fish like anchovies, sardines, and minnows. Catches prey while swimming or by dipping and plunging from the air.
– Crustaceans – Food includes shrimp, crabs, isopods, amphipods, and other aquatic crustaceans.
– Worms – Especially marine worms like ragworms.
– Spiders – Plucks spiders from their webs.
– Fruits – Berries and fruits complement the diet when insects are scarce.
– Carrion – Opportunistically will feed on dead aquatic animals.
– Human food – Readily adapts to take advantage of human food sources like chips, bread, and fish scraps.
So the little gull displays a diverse, opportunistic diet that allows it to thrive across a range of freshwater and marine habitats. It dynamically shifts its diet based on the seasonally available food sources.
Breeding
The little gull breeds in marshy wetland areas across northern latitudes:
– Nesting habitat – Breeds in freshwater marshes and wetlands with dense emergent vegetation. Nests are built in stands of rushes, reeds, sedges or grasses above water.
– Colony size – Nests in colonies ranging from just 20 to over 1,000 pairs. Colonies provide safety from predators.
– Nest – The nest is a pad of vegetation on floating vegetation or in flooded grasses. Anchored in place and built up over the course of incubation.
– Eggs – Lays 2-4 eggs that are heavily blotched to camouflage on the nest. Incubation is around 21-23 days.
– Chicks – Precocial chicks hatch covered in down. They feed themselves but are brooded by the parents. Fledge at around 4 weeks.
– Pairs – Thought to be monogamous. Pairs arrive together on the breeding grounds after migration.
– Parental care – Biparental care. Males and females share incubation and feeding of the chicks until they fledge.
So in summary, little gulls nest in large colonies in freshwater wetlands, building floating nest pads in dense vegetation where the parents cooperatively raise and fledge the chicks.
Conservation Status
The little gull is a species of least concern globally according to the IUCN Red List. Important conservation aspects include:
– Global population – Estimated at between 510,000 – 1,700,000 individual birds globally.
– Population trend – Populations appear to be increasing and expanding their breeding range in some regions like Finland.
– Threats – Habitat loss of inland wetlands. Disturbance of breeding colonies. Some hunting pressure on wintering grounds.
– Protected areas – Many key breeding areas protected, including national parks or nature preserves.
– Adaptability – Demonstrates adaptability to human-altered wetlands and opportunistic feeding. Aids resilience.
So while dependent on wetland habitats, the little gull’s large and increasing population size, broad distribution, and adaptability to human activities contribute to its least concern conservation status. Monitoring and protection of key breeding colonies should continue.
Conclusion
In summary, the little gull is the world’s smallest gull species, named for its diminutive size. It can be identified by its black head, white body, slender pointed wings, and high-pitched call. The little gull breeds across marshy wetlands of northern Europe and Asia and migrates long distances to winter along warmer coasts. It is an opportunistic and adaptable feeder that dynamically shifts its diet based on habitat and season. While dependent on wetland habitats, it is a species of least concern globally due to its large population size, increasing trend, and adaptability. Ongoing monitoring and wetland conservation are important to ensure the little gull remains secure well into the future.
