Black-tailed Gull

The black-tailed gull is a long-winged, long-billed East Asian gull. Adults have a white head and underparts, dark grey upperwings, a broad black tail band and a yellow bill marked with black and red near the tip. Younger birds are much darker overall, with solid black wingtips, a conspicuous white rump and a pale pink bill ending in black. Its long profile and buoyant, graceful flight help distinguish it from similarly sized gulls (Cornell Lab eBird species account).

It is primarily a coastal species, breeding around Russia and Japan and wintering south to Taiwan and southeastern China; records in Southeast Asia, including Vietnam, are rare. Birds use rocky shores, beaches, harbours and adjacent marine waters, gathering in substantial flocks throughout the year and feeding on fish, marine invertebrates and other available coastal foods. Its loud nasal call is often compared with a meowing cat and is conspicuous around communal resting and feeding sites (Cornell Lab eBird species account).