Laridae
鸥科
ōu kē

General

Information is based on dictionaries and other sources. Pinyin readings reflect standard Mandarin usage; for some dialect alternative names it may be of little practical use, especially for South China. Many Korean glosses are highly tentative. Comments and corrections welcome.

The gulls are known as 鸥 ōu in Chinese. While it normally refers to the gulls in a narrow sense, it can refer to all members of the Laridae, and is so used by naturalists.

Larinae : The gulls proper are known as 鸥 ōu 'gulls' or 海鸥 hǎi-ōu 'sea gulls'. As a species name, 海鸥 hǎi-ōu refers to Larus canus.

Sterninae : The terns in general are known as 燕鸥 yàn-ōu 'swallow-gulls', although an older expression 海燕 hǎi-yàn appears to exist. (海燕 hǎi-yàn is, of course, now the standard term for 'petrel'.) Mainland terminology reserves the term 燕鸥 yàn-ōu for the genera Sterna, Thalasseus, etc. The marsh terns, noddies, and others are classed as different kinds of 鸥 ōu.

Rynchopinae : The skimmers are 剪嘴鸥 jiǎn-zuǐ-ōu 'scissor-billed gulls' in Chinese.

The regularised names are as shown in the following table:

Because Chinese names follow the generic names, there is no unified name for the terns. Judging from the names -- 'swallow-gull', 'giant gull', 'noisy gull', 'floating-gull' and 'dark gull' -- the terns are simply several different classes of gull.

Species names

ABOUT THIS TABLE (Hover cursor to see)

LARINAE
SCIENTIFIC & ENGLISH		CHINESE			EAST		SOUTH	NORTH
Larus
Latin	English	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Japanese	Korean	Vietnamese	Mongolian
Larus crassirostris	Black-tailed gull Japanese gull	黑尾鸥 (黑尾鷗) hēi-wěi ōu 'black-tailed gull'	(黑尾鸥) 黑尾鷗 hēi-wěi ōu 'black-tailed gull'	海猫 (海貓) hǎi-māo 'sea cat' 乌尾尖鸥 (烏尾尖鷗) wū-wěi jiān ōu 'dark-tailed sharp gull' 中康满 (中康滿) zhōng kāng-mǎn 'medium peace plenty'	ウミネコ (海猫) umi-neko 'sea cat'	괭이갈매기 gwaengi-galmaegi 'cat gull'	Chim Mòng bể đuôi đen 'black-tailed sea gull (bird)'	Харсүүлт цахлай khar-süült tsakhlai 'black-tailed gull' Former official: Хар сүүлт цахлай khar süült tsakhlai 'black-tailed gull'
Larus canus	Mew gull Common gull	海鸥 (海鷗) hǎi ōu 'sea gull'	(海鸥) 海鷗 hǎi ōu 'sea gull'	白头鸥 (白頭鷗) bái-tóu ōu 'white-headed gull'	カモメ (鴎) kamome 'gull'	갈매기 galmaegi 'gull'	Chim Mòng bể đầu trắng 'white-headed sea gull (bird)' Chim mòng bể Viễn Đông 'Far Eastern sea gull (bird)' (13)	Үүлэн цахлай üüleŋ tsakhlai 'cloud gull'
Larus glaucescens	Glaucous-winged gull	灰翅鸥 (灰翅鷗) huī-chì ōu 'grey-winged gull'			ワシカモメ (鷲鴎) washi kamome 'eagle gull'	수리갈매기 suri-galmaegi 'eagle gull'	Mòng biển cánh xanh xám 'greenish-grey winged sea gull (bird)' (Wikipedia)
Larus hyperboreus	Glaucous gull	北极鸥 (北極鷗) běi jí ōu 'north pole gull'	(北极鸥) 北極鷗 běi jí ōu 'north pole gull'		シロカモメ (白鴎) shiro-kamome 'white gull'	흰갈매기 huin-galmaegi 'white gull'	Mòng biển xanh xám 'greenish-grey sea gull (bird)' (Wikipedia)	Мөсний цахлай mösni tsakhlai 'ice gull'
Larus argentatus Note	Herring gull	银鸥 (銀鷗) yín-ōu 'silver-gull'	(银鸥) 銀鷗 yín-ōu 'silver-gull' Taiwan former official: (黑脊鸥) 黑脊鷗 hēi-jǐ ōu 'black-spined gull'	红脚鲱鸥 (紅腳鯡鷗) hóng-jiǎo fēi ōu 'red-legged herring gull' 叼嘴郎 (叼嘴郎) diāo zuǐ láng 'hold-in-mouth fellow' 叼鱼郎 (叼魚郎) diāo yú láng 'hold-fish fellow' 大康满 (大康滿) dà kāng-mǎn 'large peace plenty' 鱼鹰子 (魚鷹子) yú-yīngzi 'fish hawk' (but see osprey and cormorant) 大海鸥 (大海鷗) dà hǎi-ōu 'large sea gull' 大水鸽子 (大水鴿子) dà shuǐ gēzi 'large water pigeon'	セグロカモメ (背黒鴎) se-guro kamome 'black-backed gull' ウスセグロカモメ (薄背黒鴎) usu se-guro kamome 'light black-backed gull' (if species status of L. vegae is recognised)	옅은재갈매기 yeoteun-jae-galmaegi 'pale ash gull' Taxonomy	Mòng biển cá trích 'herring sea gull (bird)' (Wikipedia)	Мөнгөлөг цахлай möŋglög tsakhlai 'silver-gull'
Latin	English	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Japanese	Korean	Vietnamese	Mongolian
Larus argentatus vegae Larus vegae	Vega gull Siberian gull	西伯利亚银鸥 (西伯利亞銀鷗) xībólìyà yín-ōu 'Siberian silver-gull' (2, 4) 织女银鸥 (織女銀鷗) zhī-nǚ yín-ōu 'weaving girl (=Vega) silver-gull' (3) or 织女鸥 (織女鷗) zhī-nǚ ōu 'weaving girl gull' (Alternative in 3)	(织女银鸥) 織女銀鷗 zhī-nǚ yín-ōu 'weaving girl (=Vega) silver-gull' (proposed - from Internet)	红脚银鸥 (紅腳銀鷗) hóng-jiǎo yín-ōu 'red-legged silver-gull' (7)	セグロカモメ (背黒鴎) se-guro kamome 'black-backed gull' (Internet)	재갈매기 jae-galmaegi 'ash gull'	Chim Mòng bể Vega 'Vega sea gull (bird)' (13) Note
Larus cachinnans	Yellow-legged gull Caspian gull	黄腿银鸥 (黃腿銀鷗) huáng-tuǐ yín ōu 'yellow-legged silver-gull' (2) 黄脚银鸥 (黃腳銀鷗) huáng-jiǎo yín-ōu 'yellow-footed silver-gull' (3) or 黄脚鸥 (黃腳鷗) huáng-jiǎo ōu 'yellow-footed gull' (Alternative in 3) 黄腿鸥 (黃腿鷗) huáng-tuǐ ōu 'yellow-legged gull' (4)	(黄脚银鸥) 黃腳銀鷗 huáng-jiǎo yín-ōu 'yellow-footed silver-gull'		キアシセグロカモメ (黄足背黒鴎) ki-ashi se-guro kamome 'yellow-legged black-backed gull' (Internet)	노랑발갈매기 norang-bal-galmaegi 'yellow-legged gull' (L. mongolicus) 카스피해갈매기 kaseupi-hae-galmaegi 'Caspian sea gull (bird)' (L. cachinnans)	Mòng biển Caspi 'Caspian sea gull (bird)' (Wikipedia)	Үхэр цахлай ükher tsakhlai 'ox gull' Former official: Бархираа цахлай barkh'raa tsakhlai 'screaming gull'
Larus schistisagus	Slaty-backed gull	灰背鸥 (灰背鷗) huī-bèi ōu 'grey-backed gull'	(灰背鸥) 灰背鷗 huī-bèi ōu 'grey-backed gull' Taiwan former official: (大黑脊鸥) 大黑脊鷗 dà hēi-jǐ ōu 'large black-spined gull'		オオセグロカモメ (大背黒鴎) ō se-guro kamome 'large black-backed gull'	큰재갈매기 keun-jae-galmaegi 'large ash gull'	Mòng biển lưng đá 'stone-backed sea gull (bird)' (Wikipedia)
Larus fuscus	Lesser black-backed gull	小黑背银鸥 (小黑背銀鷗) xiǎo hēi-bèi yín-ōu 'silver-gull' (2, 5) Note	(小黑背鸥) 小黑背鷗 xiǎo hēi-bèi yín-ōu 'silver-gull'		ニシセグロカモメ (背黒鴎) nishi se-guro kamome 'western black-backed gull' (from Internet) Note		Chim Mòng biển lưng đen nhỏ 'small black-backed sea gull (bird)' (Wikipedia)
Larus fuscus heuglini Larus heuglini Note	Heuglin's gull	灰林银鸥 (灰林銀鷗) huī-lín yín ōu 'Huilin's silver-gull' (huilin literally 'grey forest') (3) or 灰林鸥 (灰林鷗) huī-lín ōu 'Huilin's gull' (huilin literally 'grey forest') (Alternative in 3) 休氏银鸥 (休氏銀鷗) xiū-shì yín-ōu 'Mr Xiu's silver-gull' (4)	(灰林银鸥) 灰林銀鷗 huī-lín yín ōu 'Huilin's silver-gull' (huilin literally 'grey forest') (proposed, from Internet) Taxonomy		ホイグリンカモメ (ホイグリン鴎) hoigurin kamome 'Heuglin's gull' (from Internet) Taxonomy	줄무늬노랑발갈매기 jul-munui-norang-bal-galmaegi 'stripe-patterned yellow-legged gull'	Chim Mòng bể chân vàng 'yellow-legged sea gull (bird)' (13) Note or Mòng biển Heuglin 'Heuglin's sea gull (bird)' (Wikipedia)
Latin	English	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Japanese	Korean	Vietnamese	Mongolian
Larus ichthyaetus	Great black-headed gull or Pallas's Gull	渔鸥 (漁鷗) yú-ōu 'fishing gull'	(渔鸥) 漁鷗 yú-ōu 'fishing gull'		オオズグロカモメ (大頭黒鴎) ō zu-guro kamome 'large black-headed gull'	큰검은머리갈매기 keun-geomeun-meori-galmaegi 'large black-headed gull'	Chim Mòng bể đầu đen lớn 'large black-headed sea gull (bird)' Chim mòng bể Palas 'Pallas's sea gull (bird)' (13)	Итэлгэн цахлай itelgeŋ tsakhlai 'itelgen gull' (related to итлэг, a kind of raptor?)
Larus brunnicephalus	Brown-headed gull Indian black-headed gull	棕头鸥 (棕頭鷗) zōng-tóu ōu 'reddishbrown-headed gull'	(棕头鸥) 棕頭鷗 zōng-tóu ōu 'reddishbrown-headed gull'	水鸽子 (水鴿子) shuǐ gēzi 'water pigeon' 海鸥 (海鷗) hǎi-ōu 'sea gull'	チャガシラカモメ (茶頭鴎) cha-gashira kamome 'brown-headed gull'		Chim Mòng bể đầu nâu 'brown-headed sea gull (bird)'	Бортолгойт цахлай bor-tolgoit tsakhlai 'brown-headed gull' Former official: Бор толгойт цахлай bor tolgoit tsakhlai 'brown-headed gull'
Larus ridibundis	Common black-headed gull Black-headed gull	红嘴鸥 (紅嘴鷗) hóng-zuǐ ōu 'red-billed gull'	(红嘴鸥) 紅嘴鷗 hóng-zuǐ ōu 'red-billed gull'	笑鸥 (笑鷗) xiào ōu 'laughing gull' 普通海鸥 (普通海鷗) pǔtōng hǎi-ōu 'common sea gull' 海鸥 (海鷗) hǎi-ōu 'sea gull' 赤味鸥 (赤味鷗) chì-wèi ōu 'red flavour (?) gull' 钓鱼郎 (釣魚郎) diào yú láng 'fisher fellow' 小康满 (小康滿) xiǎo kāng-mǎn 'small peace plenty' 水鸽子 (水鴿子) shuǐ gēzi 'water pigeon'	ユリカモメ (百合鴎) yuri kamome 'lily gull'	붉은부리갈매기 bulgeun-buri-galmaegi 'red-billed gull'	Chim Mòng bể 'sea gull (bird)' Chim Mòng bể đầu đen 'black-headed sea gull (bird)' (13)	Хүрэнтолгойт цахлай khüren-tolgoit tsakhlai 'darkbrown-headed gull' Former official: Хүрэн толгойт цахлай khüren tolgoit tsakhlai 'darkbrown-headed gull'
Larus genei	Slender-billed gull	细嘴鸥 (細嘴鷗) xì-zuǐ ōu 'slender-billed gull'			ハシボソカモメ (嘴細鴎) hashi-boso kamome 'slender-billed gull'	기린목갈매기 girin-mok-galmaegi 'qilin-necked gull' or 긴목갈매기 gin-mok-galmaegi 'long-necked gull'		Шөвгөр цахлай shövgör tsakhlai 'sharp-pointed gull'
Larus saundersi	Saunders's gull Saunder's gull	黑嘴鸥 (黑嘴鷗) hēi-zuǐ ōu 'black-billed gull'	(黑嘴鸥) 黑嘴鷗 hēi-zuǐ ōu 'black-billed gull'	乌头 (烏頭) wū-tóu 'dark head' 白眼睛 (白眼睛) bái-yǎnjing 'white eye'	ズグロカモメ (頭黒鴎) zu-guro kamome 'black-headed gull'	검은머리갈매기 geomeun-meori-galmaegi 'black-headed gull'	Chim Mòng bể mỏ ngắn 'short-billed sea gull (bird)'
Latin	English	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Japanese	Korean	Vietnamese	Mongolian
Larus relictus (No. 37)	Relict gull Relic gull	遗鸥 (遺鷗) yí-ōu 'relic gull'			ゴビズキンカモメ (ゴビ頭巾鴎) gobi zukin kamome 'Gobi hooded gull'	적호갈매기 jeokho-galmaegi 'jeokho gull' or 고대갈매기 godae-galmaegi 'ancient gull'	Chim Mòng bể Relic 'relic sea gull (bird)'	Рэликт цахлай relikt tsakhlai 'relikt gull'
Larus minutus	Little gull	小鸥 (小鷗) xiǎo-ōu 'small gull'	(小鸥) 小鷗 xiǎo-ōu 'small gull'		ヒメカモメ (姫鴎) hime kamome 'princess gull'			Хурган цахлай khurgaŋ tsakhlai 'lamb gull'
Rhodostethia
Latin	English	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Japanese	Korean	Vietnamese	Mongolian
Rhodostethia rosea Larus roseus	Ross's gull Wedge-tailed gull	楔尾鸥 (楔尾鷗) xiē-wěi ōu 'wedge-tailed gull'		罗氏鸥 (羅氏鷗) luó-shì ōu 'Mr Luo's gull'	ヒメクビワカモメ (姫首輪鴎) hime kubi-wa kamome 'princess neck-ringed gull'	쇠목테갈매기 soe-mok-te-galmaegi 'small throat-banded gull'	Mòng biển Ross 'Ross's sea gull (bird)' (Wikipedia)	Хүзүүвчит ягаандай khüzüüvchit yagaandai 'ring-necked yagaandai' Former official: Ягаан цахлай yagaaŋ tsakhlai 'pink gull'
Xema
Latin	English	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Japanese	Korean	Vietnamese	Mongolian
Xema sabini Larus sabini	Sabine's Gull	叉尾鸥 (叉尾鷗) chā-wěi ōu 'fork-tailed gull' (Found only in Spratlies)			クビワカモメ (首輪鴎) kubi-wa kamome 'ring-necked gull'	목테갈매기 mok-te-galmaegi 'throat-banded gull'
Rissa
Latin	English	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Japanese	Korean	Vietnamese	Mongolian
Rissa tridactyla Larus tridactylus	Black-legged kittiwake Kittiwake	三趾鸥 (三趾鷗) sān-zhǐ ōu 'three-toed gull'	(三趾鸥) 三趾鷗 sān-zhǐ ōu 'three-toed gull'		ミツユビカモメ (三つ趾鴎) mitsu-yubi kamome 'three-toed gull'	세가락갈매기 se-garak-galmaegi 'three-toed gull'	Mòng biển xira 'xira sea gull (bird)' (Wikipedia)	Гурванхуруут захлай gurveŋ-khuruut zakhlai 'three-toed gull' Former official: Гурван хуруут цахлай gurveŋ khuruut zakhlai 'three-toed gull'

Floating Menu by Milonic

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Tool tips by Walter Zorn

Laridae 2