Saunders's Gull
Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
at Dalian

In 3 days ~20% in a week ~40%

5 Verified sightings at Dalian
December Best month

About the Saunders's Gull

Saunders's gull (Saundersilarus saundersi) or Chinese black-headed gull, is a species of gull in the family Laridae. It is found in China, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Macau, Russia, Taiwan, and Vietnam. Its natural habitats are estuarine waters and intertidal marshes. As with many other gulls, it has traditionally been placed in the genus Larus, but based on phylogenetic work some have moved it to Chroicocephalus, while others argue it is sufficiently distinct for placement in the monotypic Saundersilarus. In 2023, this transfer was accepted by the International Ornithologists' Union.

It is threatened by habitat loss, particularly by conversion of saltmarsh to agricultural land or fish farms, and industrial development including oil extraction. One of its few remaining strongholds are the Yancheng Coastal Wetlands, which hosts about 20% of the world's population.

Saunders's gull is named after the British ornithologist Howard Saunders. This is a very small species of gull with a length of just 33 cm (13 in) and, among gulls, only the little gull is smaller. Adults have a black hood and nape during the breeding season. It is very pale with a white body and tail... Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability

More parks will be added in future updates.

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 Quanzhou 🇨🇳 China
~10%
2 Dalian 🇨🇳 China
~10%
3 Busan 🇰🇷 South Korea
<5%
4 Seoul 🇰🇷 South Korea
<5%
5 Nagoya 🇯🇵 Japan
<5%
6 Tokyo 🇯🇵 Japan
<5%
7 Guangzhou 🇨🇳 China
<5%
8 Beijing 🇨🇳 China
<5%

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Saunders's Gull in Dalian?

With luck

About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Saunders's Gull sighting in Dalian on a given day, based on 5 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 37th most-seen of the 46 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 40%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Saunders's Gull in Dalian?

December

In that month about 30% of wildlife watchers report a Saunders's Gull in Dalian on a given day, against under 5% in February, June–July and September, the lowest months. That is one of Dalian's driest months, with about 10 mm of rain against 170 mm in August. March–May, August and October–November have too few records to rate.

Is Dalian the best place to see a Saunders's Gull?

Among the best

Of the 8 cities where we can rate Saunders's Gull sightings, Dalian ranks 2nd at about 10%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Quanzhou (China, about 10%).

Where does the Saunders's Gull sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Saunders's Gull is recorded against all the birds logged in Dalian (5 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

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