Black-tailed Gull
Larus crassirostris
Photo: gg_copen / CC BY-NC 4.0 / iNaturalist
The Black-tailed Gull is a gull with a black band on its tail and a cat-like call that gave it its Japanese name. It breeds in large colonies on Japan's coasts and islands. Breeding sites such as Kabushima in Hachinohe and Teuri Island in Hokkaido are designated Natural Monuments and have long been cherished locally.
- Scientific name
- Larus crassirostris
- Group
- Birds
- Prefectures
- Hokkaido, Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Yamagata, Wakayama, Shimane, Oita
- Japanese Red List (Ministry of the Environment)
- VulnerableMinistry of the Environment 5th Red List (2026)
- When to see
- February to August
- 日本語
- ウミネコ
- 简体中文
- 黑尾鸥
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Where to see the Black-tailed Gull
Facilities whose official websites show this animal on display. Exhibits can change, so check each facility's latest information before you go.
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Kabushima in Hachinohe, Aomori, is a Natural Monument breeding colony where about 30,000 birds gather. They spend roughly February to August on the island and move to Shikoku, Kyushu and elsewhere in winter.
Exhibit sourceMap
Markers show designated habitats and breeding sites.
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Frequently asked questions
The Black-tailed Gull is designated as a species without a fixed area and lives in places such as Hokkaido, Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Yamagata, Wakayama, Shimane, Oita.
You can see the Black-tailed Gull at Kobe Municipal Oji Zoo, Yokohama Zoological Gardens ZOORASIA, among others (confirmed on each facility's official website on 2026-10-15).
The Black-tailed Gull is mainly seen in February to August. Kabushima in Hachinohe, Aomori, is a Natural Monument breeding colony where about 30,000 birds gather. They spend roughly February to August on the island and move to Shikoku, Kyushu and elsewhere in winter.
The Black-tailed Gull is listed as "Vulnerable" in the Ministry of the Environment 5th Red List (2026) (listed as ウミネコ).
Animals related to the Black-tailed Gull
Animals in the same group or designated in the same area.
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