The Little Gull is primarily a European gull, however small numbers nesting in the Great lakes region were first discovered in 1962. The smallest gull in the world, the Little is about the size of a Forster’s Tern (as can be seen in the photos below) and is noticeably smaller than even the Bonaparte’s Gull.
Another one of the “M” birds, the juvenile Little has a fairly broad “M” shape on its wings. The juvenile also has black ear spots, smudgy black rear-crown and a black tail-band. However, immature Bonaparte’s share these features, as well as the black bill and pink legs. The size and the “M” shape best distinguish juvenile Little from Bonaparte’s.
Adult Little are readily told from all other gulls by their size and the entirely black underwings which can be seen from considerable distances. Photos of adult Little Gull can be found at Cornell’s Macaulay Library.
