Saunders's Gull
NameSaunders's Gull
Common NameSaunders's Gull
Scientific NameChroicocephalus saundersi
FamilyLaridae
Wingspan (cm)78
Length (cm)30.5
Weight (g)195
Plumage DetailsBreeding adults have a glossy black hood extending to the nape, contrasting with a white body and pale grey mantle and upperwings. They feature prominent white crescents above and below the eye, a black bill, and red legs. The primary feathers have black tips with white mirrors, visible in flight.
Vocalization / CallVocalizations include a high-pitched, nasal 'kew-kew-kew' or 'kya-kya-kya' call, often given in flight or when disturbed.
Primary Dietomnivore
Primary Habitatscoastal, wetland
Conservation Statusvulnerable
Geographic RangeBreeds along the coasts of eastern China and South Korea. Winters south to Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Vietnam, and occasionally other Southeast Asian countries.
Identifying FeaturesBlack hood (breeding plumage), White eye crescents, Small size for a gull, Pale grey upperparts, Red legs and bill (breeding), Black primary tips with white mirrors
Description
Saunders's Gull is a small, elegant gull primarily found in coastal East Asia. In breeding plumage, it sports a distinctive black hood and bright red legs, foraging actively in mudflats and estuaries for invertebrates.
