The
little gull (
Hydrocoloeus minutus or
Larus minutus), is a small
gull that breeds in northern
Europe and
Asia. It also has small colonies in parts of southern
Canada. It is
migratory, wintering on coasts in western Europe, the
Mediterranean and (in small numbers) the northeast
USA; in recent years non-breeding birds have summered in western Europe in increasing numbers. As is the case with many gulls, it has traditionally been placed in the
genus Larus. It is the only member of the genus
Hydrocoloeus, although it has been suggested that
Ross's gull also should be included in this genus.