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The smallest gull in the world is an uncommon to rare species in the Great Lakes; however, our numbers are particularly high when compared to elsewhere in North America. A disjunct breeding population is assumed to be largely centered on the Hudson Bay Lowlands, with most of the species breeding population in Europe. Select hotspots locally can hold large numbers of Little Gulls at specific times of year.
Adults arrive in March and April, leaving soon after they finish their molt into breeding plumage. One-year old birds arrive in May and June, sometimes staying in moderate numbers at select locations locally to molt. They are joined by southbound migrant adults in July and early August, followed by fresh juveniles in August and September. These age classes will also molt locally, generally leaving later in November or December with the onset of cold weather. Much smaller numbers may remain through the winter.
Juvenile / First Cycle
June
July
The first juvenile plumage Little Gulls usually arrive in August.
August
September
By late September, some young Little Gulls are well advanced into their "first winter" plumage, with fresh gray mantle feathers replacing their blackish juvenile feathers while others have made little progress.
October
November
December
January
February
March
April
May
Rare "dark morph" first cycle Little Gulls are sometimes recorded, with extensively black upperwings. They can be recorded in any month, but for whatever reason, appear to be more common in spring and early summer.
Second Cycle
The change from first to second cycle depends on the timing of the start of the inner primary molt. May/June is used here as an arbitrary cutoff.
June
July
August
September
By September, second-year Little Gulls appear similar to adults, but with reduced black in the underwing. More extreme examples with lots of black in the upperwing, or very little black feathering on the underwing, stand out more than "more-adult-like" presumed second cycle individuals.
It is also worth noting that the dark underwing may look different in various light or viewing conditions, and cameras in particular can make dark underwing feathers appear more extensively dark, or pale, depending on camera settings (see an example of a full adult with a brightly exposed underwing).
October
November
December
January
February
Little Gull numbers start to decline with the onset of winter, with their lowest numbers in February, before the first migrants start to arrive in March. Interestingly, they may be somewhat more cold tolerant than the much more abundant Bonaparte's Gull.
March
April
May
Third Cycle / Adult
June
Full adult Little Gulls are (generally) breeding north of the Great Lakes in June. The earliest fall migrants may return by the end of the month. As noted above, some June records of "adults" are recognizable as birds entering their third cycle.
July
As birds arrive at "staging grounds" within the Great Lakes, their full body molt progresses steadily through August.
August
September
October
The last outer primaries are usually full grown by the end of October or soon thereafter.
November
December
January
February
March
Numbers of Little Gull are at their lowest in February, with adults returning to the Great Lakes to molt into breeding plumage in March and early April.
April
Spring molt into "breeding plumage" occurs quickly through April with many adult birds leaving for their breeding grounds in late April and early May.
May
Few adult Little Gulls are left in the Great Lakes by the end of May.
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