Little Gull vs Heermann's Gull

Hydrocoloeus minutus compared with Larus heermanni

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Little Gull Heermann's Gull
Scientific Name Hydrocoloeus minutus Larus heermanni
Order Charadriiformes Charadriiformes
Family Laridae Laridae
Conservation Status Least Concern Near Threatened
Length
Wingspan 43.8 cm (17.2 in) 67.2 cm (26.5 in)
Weight 114.08333333333333 g (4.02 oz) 448.26666666666665 g (15.81 oz)
Diet -- --
Clutch Size 1-3 1-2
Population Trend

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

Little Gull only

Heermann's Gull only

None

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Little Gull

Near Threatened

Heermann's Gull

About These Birds

Little Gull

Little Gull, 25–30 cm, is the world's smallest gull, breeding in Eurasian wetlands and wintering on Atlantic coasts. Breeding adult has a full black hood; underwing is uniformly dark — unique among gulls. Feeds on insects over water in summer, small fish and invertebrates in winter.

Heermann's Gull

Heermann's Gull, 46–51 cm, is distinctive — dark grey body, white head (breeding), red bill. Breeds almost entirely on Isla Rasa in the Gulf of California, then disperses north along the Pacific coast to British Columbia. Kleptoparasite; steals fish from Brown Pelicans. Near Threatened; range highly restricted.

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