Chroicocephalus saundersi Swinhoe, 1871

Size

Chroicocephalus saundersi (Saunders's gull) is a very small gull species, with a total length of only 33 cm (13 in). Among all gull species, only the little gull is smaller than it.

Breeding adult plumage

During the breeding season, adult individuals have a fully black hood and nape. This species has very pale plumage, with a white body and white tail, and pale grey wings.

Non-breeding adult plumage

Non-breeding adult individuals have a mottled grey hood and nape, their wings have white tips, and the primary feathers carry black markings.

Immature plumage

Immature birds can be recognized by a narrow black band across the tail and some dark mottling on the upperwing.

Physical morphology

Saunders's gull has dark red-brown legs, a short black bill, and a squat body shape.

Breeding range and nesting habitat

This species breeds in eastern China and the west coast of Korea, where it nests in saltmarshes dominated by the Suaeda species Suaeda glauca.

Winter range

It overwinters in southern China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, South Korea, southwestern Japan and Vietnam.

Winter habitat

Its winter habitats are estuaries and aquaculture ponds, and some populations move inland to lakes and marshes.