Little Gull (Hydrocoloeus minutus)

The Little Gull (Hydrocoloeus minutus), the smallest gull species, is identifiable by its delicate size (25–30 cm) and buoyant, tern-like flight. In breeding plumage, it sports a black hood, pale grey upperparts, black wingtips, and a white body often flushed with pink. In non-breeding plumage, the black hood is replaced by a faint cap and a dark ear spot. Juveniles are distinct with dark underwing coverts, a black tail band, and a scaly brownish pattern on their upperparts. Its thin dark bill, reddish legs, and striking dark underwings in flight are key features. Found mainly in freshwater lakes, marshes, and coastal lagoons, this species is rare in India, appearing as a migrant or vagrant during its seasonal movements.

The Little Gull, the world’s smallest gull species, typically winters in regions surrounding the Mediterranean and Caspian Seas. However, it is a rare vagrant to the Indian Subcontinent, with only a few confirmed records. Its inconspicuous winter plumage, which can resemble that of Whiskered Terns (Chlidonias hybrida), suggests it might be an overlooked species in the region. Birders are encouraged to keep an eye out for this elusive gull, especially in large flocks of terns and other gulls. In the Delhi area, one of the earliest reports came from Paul Holt, who observed a possible Little Gull at Okhla in late December 1992. Unfortunately, this sighting lacks detailed documentation, and subsequent references have introduced conflicting information (Harvey, 2006; Praveen et al, 2014) more definitive record came on 17 December 2014, when a first-winter Little Gull was photographed in Okhla, amidst a flock of around 300 Black-headed Gulls Chroicocephalus ridibundus). Although the photographs were not of the highest clarity, the observer highlighted key distinguishing features: its smaller size relative to Black-headed Gulls, black transverse band on the upper wings, rounded wings, black terminal tail band, and white secondaries. These characteristics clearly separated it from other similar species, including the first-winter Black-legged Kittiwake (<em>Rissa tridactyla</em>) (Lambert, 2015). The rarity of confirmed sightings underscores the importance of detailed observation and photographic evidence. With its subtle field marks and nondescript winter plumage, the Little Gull presents a challenge even to experienced birders. Its possible under-detection in India makes every potential sighting significant, contributing to our understanding of its vagrancy and global distribution. So, the next time you scan through a flock of terns or gulls, remember to keep a lookout—you might just spot this diminutive and enigmatic visitor
On 6th December, 2024 it was found at Chandu, Haryana by Akshit Dua feeding with black and brown headed Gulls. <br />12th December 2024 It was seen by Manoj Sharma from Najafgarh, thus putting the bird officially in the Delhi list. 

Confusion Species 
The Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida) can indeed be confused with the Little Gull, particularly in Delhi during migration, but they can be distinguished by the following features:

1. Size and Shape:

   • The Whiskered Tern is slightly larger (25–30 cm) with a more robust, stocky body and a longer, stouter bill.
   • The Little Gull is smaller, more delicate, with a thin, dark bill and shorter wings.

2. Plumage Differences:

   • In breeding plumage, the Whiskered Tern has a black cap (not a full hood) and a darker grey body with white cheeks, whereas the Little Gull has a complete black hood and a pale grey back.
   • In non-breeding plumage, the Whiskered Tern has a smudgy black cap with pale underparts, while the Little Gull shows a distinct dark ear spot and pale body with no grey wash on the chest.

3. Wings in Flight:

   • The Little Gull has strikingly dark underwings (a key ID feature), while the Whiskered Tern has pale underwings with no significant contrast.
   • The Whiskered Tern’s upperwings are pale grey with no black wingtips, unlike the Little Gull, which has darker contrasting wingtips.

4. Behavior:

   • Whiskered Terns often hover over water, feeding in a more tern-like manner, while the Little Gull flies buoyantly with more of a gull-like, leisurely motion.

By focusing on underwing color, hood patterns, and flight behavior, the Little Gull can be reliably separated from the Whiskered Tern.