Little gull Larus minutus


Identification Tips:

Adult alternate:

Adult basic:

First year:

Similar species:

Unlike other small gulls, adult Little Gulls have no black on the uppersurface of the wings and have wholly dark underwings. At rest, note that the black hood extends farther down the nape than the other species and the short wings make the bird appear stubby. First-year Little Gulls are easily distinguished from other small gulls by the pale trailing edge to the wing, but also have wider, bolder carpal bars. Adult Bonaparte's and Black-headed Gulls are superficially similar but have white wedges on the uppersurface of the wing and dark primary tips (visible in flight and at rest). Laughing and Franklin's Gulls both have much darker gray backs, never show similar wing patterns and have much thicker, more robust bills.