Saunders's Gull

Saunders's Gull, Mar 2020, Tokyo, Japan

This species has a different ecology from other birds that gather at fishing ports. Look closely at its shape—you will notice its long wings extending beyond the body. Among gulls, it has a particularly elegant proportion. This makes sense, as the species feeds on mudflats.

When the tide goes out and the mudflats are exposed, it floats and flies continuously, catching small animals such as crabs to eat.

In winter, it is relatively easy to see in Kyushu, and a few individuals also spend the winter in the Kanto region.

Its winter plumage is beautiful, but from mid-March onward, it molts, and some individuals develop a fully black head in their summer plumage.