VU
Saunders's Gull Saundersilarus saundersi



Taxonomy

Taxonomic note
Saundersilarus saundersi (del Hoyo and Collar 2014) was previously placed in the genus Larus.

Taxonomic source(s)
del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A. and Fishpool, L.D.C. 2014. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 1: Non-passerines. Lynx Edicions BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK.

IUCN Red List criteria met and history
Red List criteria met
Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable
- - A3cde+4cde

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2018 Vulnerable A3cde+4cde
2016 Vulnerable A3cde+4cde
2012 Vulnerable A3cde+4cde
2010 Vulnerable A3c
2008 Vulnerable A3c
2006 Vulnerable
2004 Vulnerable
2000 Vulnerable
1996 Endangered
1994 Endangered
1988 Threatened
Species attributes

Migratory status full migrant Forest dependency does not normally occur in forest
Land-mass type continent
Average mass -
Range

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 531,000 km2 medium
Extent of Occurrence (non-breeding) 2,670,000 km2 medium
Number of locations 11-100 -
Severely fragmented? no -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size 14400 mature individuals medium estimated 2008
Population trend decreasing poor suspected 1999-2034
Rate of change over the past 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 10-19% - - -
Rate of change over the future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 30-49% - - -
Rate of change over the past & future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 30-49% - - -
Generation length 11.5 years - - -
Number of subpopulations 2-100 - - -

Population justification: A population estimate of 14,400 mature individuals has been derived from analysis of records and surveys by BirdLife International (2011). This is roughly equivalent to 21,000-22,000 individuals in total.

Trend justification: The species's population is presumed to be declining in line with the rate of habitat loss owing to land reclamation, which is anticipated to increase in the near future. Studies at specific sites have shown declines, for example a drop from over 900 individuals to 575 in the last 15 years at Yancheng National Nature Reserve (Jiang et al. 2010).


Country/territory distribution
Country/Territory Presence Origin Resident Breeding visitor Non-breeding visitor Passage migrant
China (mainland) extant native yes
Hong Kong (China) extant native yes
Japan extant native yes
Macao (China) extant native yes
North Korea extant native yes
Russia extant native
Russia (Asian) extant native
South Korea extant native yes
Taiwan, China extant native yes
Vietnam extant native yes

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name
China (mainland) Beidaihe
China (mainland) Chongming Dongtan Nature Reserve
China (mainland) Coastal wetlands of northern Chongming Dao island
China (mainland) Dongzhaigang
China (mainland) Eastern tidal flat of Nanhui
China (mainland) Futian
China (mainland) Gongping Dahu Nature Reserve
China (mainland) Hangzhou Wan
China (mainland) Jiuduansha Nature Reserve
China (mainland) Luan He Estuary
China (mainland) Min Jiang Estuary
China (mainland) Nanliujiang Hekou
China (mainland) Poyang Hu wetlands
China (mainland) Shuangtai (Shuangtaizi) Estuary and Inner Gulf of Liaodong
China (mainland) Taizhou Wan
China (mainland) Wenzhou Wan
China (mainland) Xuanmen Wan
China (mainland) Yalu Jiang Estuary
China (mainland) Yancheng Nature Reserve
China (mainland) Yellow River Delta Nature Reserve
China (mainland) Yong Jiang Estuary
China (mainland) Yueqing Wan
Hong Kong (China) Inner Deep Bay and Shenzhen River catchment area
Japan Hakata bay
Japan Hikawa estuary, Shiranui
Japan Inner Ariake bay
Japan Kamogawa estuary
Japan Kamogawa estuary - Marine
Japan Kumakawa estuary
Japan Nakatsu and Usa tidal flats
Japan Sone tidal flat
North Korea Taedong River estuary
South Korea Asan Bay (including Asan-ho lake and Sapgyo-ho lake)
South Korea Cheonsu Bay
South Korea Dongjin estuary
South Korea Geum-gang river and estuary
South Korea Mangyeong estuary
South Korea Nakdong-gang estuary
South Korea Namyang Bay
South Korea Sihwa-ho lake
South Korea Suncheon Bay
South Korea Tidal flat area of southern Ganghwa-do island
South Korea Tidal flat area of Yeongjong-do island
Taiwan, China Aogu Wetlands
Taiwan, China Beimen
Taiwan, China Budai Wetlands
Taiwan, China Chu'an
Taiwan, China Hanbao Wetlands
Taiwan, China Hsinchu City Coastal Area
Taiwan, China Kaomei Wetlands
Taiwan, China Kinmen National Park
Taiwan, China Lanyang River Estuary
Taiwan, China Pohtzi River Estuary
Taiwan, China Tacheng Wetlands
Taiwan, China Tatu Rivermouth Wildlife Refuge
Vietnam An Hai
Vietnam Nghia Hung
Vietnam Thai Thuy
Vietnam Tien Lang
Vietnam Tra Co
Vietnam Xuan Thuy

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Marine Intertidal Salt Marshes (Emergent Grasses) major breeding
Marine Neritic Estuaries major non-breeding
Altitude   Occasional altitudinal limits  

Threats & impact
Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses
Agriculture & aquaculture Annual & perennial non-timber crops - Agro-industry farming Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Agriculture & aquaculture Marine & freshwater aquaculture - Industrial aquaculture Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Rapid Declines Medium Impact: 7
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion, Reduced reproductive success
Biological resource use Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources - Unintentional effects: (subsistence/small scale) [harvest] Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Species disturbance, Reduced reproductive success
Biological resource use Hunting & trapping terrestrial animals - Intentional use (species is the target) Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Species disturbance, Reduced reproductive success
Energy production & mining Oil & gas drilling Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Species disturbance, Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Spartina alterniflora Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Residential & commercial development Commercial & industrial areas Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Species disturbance, Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Residential & commercial development Housing & urban areas Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Species disturbance, Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion

Utilisation
Purpose Scale
Food - human subsistence, national
Pets/display animals, horticulture subsistence, national

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Saunders's Gull Saundersilarus saundersi. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/saunderss-gull-saundersilarus-saundersi on 23/12/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 23/12/2024.