Little Gull : Spotted
Little gull—a bird native to the Eurasian regio—was spotted for the first time in NCR
- The Little Gull (hydrocele minutes) is the smallest species of gull (seabird) in the world, belonging to the family Laridae.
- It breeds in northern Europe and across the Palearctic.
- It is migratory, wintering on coasts in western Europe, the Mediterranean, and (in small numbers) the northeast United States.
- Habitat: Seacoasts, bays, estuaries, rivers, lakes, ponds, marshes, and flooded fields.
- This is the smallest gull species, with a length of 25–30 cm, a wingspan of 61–78 cm, and a mass of 68–162 g.
- It is pale grey in breeding plumage with a black hood, dark underwings, and often a pinkish flush on the breast.
- In winter, the head goes white apart from a darker cap and eye-spot.
- The bill is thin and black, and the legs are dark red. The flight on rounded wings is somewhat tern-like.
- Young birds have black markings on the head and upper parts, and a “W” pattern across the wings. They take three years to reach maturity.
- IUCN Red List: Least Concern
