Gulls (Laridae)

Little Gull (Larus minutus) - HBW 3, p. 619

French: Mouette pygmée German: Zwergmöwe Spanish: Gaviota Enana

Taxonomy: Larus minutus Pallas, 1776, rivers of Siberia.
Apparently most similar to Rhodostethia rosea and Xema sabini, although both of these highly divergent from the hooded gulls. Sometimes placed in separate genus Hydrocoloeus. Despite disjunct nature of breeding distribution, geographical variation insufficient to warrant subspecific division. Monotypic.

Distribution: N Scandinavia, Baltic republics and W Russia to W Siberia (between R Ural and R Ob'); E Siberia (E from Lena basin and L Baikal); also sporadically in W & C Europe, and casually in North America. Winters mostly S and W of breeding range.