The Little Gull is the world's smallest gull. It breeds in eastern Europe and western Siberia but has established small breeding populations around the Great Lakes. Adults in breeding plumage have a distinctive all-black hood and dark underwings. During migration it dips and buoyantly picks food from the water surface like a tern. It is regular in small numbers on the Atlantic Coast in winter.
Habitat
Great Lakes and Atlantic Coast marshes; coastal waters and open lake surfaces
Diet
Small fish and aquatic insects picked from the water surface
How common
Uncommon
Recent Little Gull sightings near you
Live, research-grade observations from iNaturalist. Allow location to center the map on you.
Spot a Little Gull? Identify it instantly.
Point Huck at any plant or animal and get an instant ID, rarity, and field notes — building your personal nature collection as you go.
Get Huck — free