Laridae
カモメ科
kamome ka

General names

Information is based on dictionaries and other sources. Species list may not be current. Korean glosses are only tentative. Comments and corrections welcome.

In Japanese, the gulls proper are known as カモメ kamome, written with the Chinese character 鴎. By itself, kamome refers to Larus canus. The best-known gull in Japan, however, is not called a kamome at all, going instead by the name ウミネコ umi-neko (海猫) or 'sea cat' after its distinctive cry. Such is the power of names that many Japanese perceive kamome and umi-neko to be different types of bird, unlike English where they are simply regarded as different types of sea gull.

For other species, names are supplemented by descriptors relating to physical appearance or geographical range. Some seem to be from English (e.g., 'great black-headed gull'), but many appear to have been developed systematically and independently.

The terns are known as アジサシ aji-sashi, written with the characters 鯵刺'horse-mackerel stabber', It is not clear whether this is the true etymology or a later folk etymology, and in the tables アジサシ aji-sashi is glossed simply as 'tern'.

The marsh terns are distinguished in Japanese usage as クロハラアジサシ kuro-hara aji-sashi 'black-bellied tern'.

Species names

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LARINAE
SCIENTIFIC & WESTERN		JAPANESE		CHINESE			KOREAN
Larus
Latin	Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru	Japanese	Other J	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Korean
Larus crassirostris	Black-tailed gull Japanese gull Goéland à queue noire Japanmöwe Чернохвостая чайка	ウミネコ (海猫) umi-neko 'sea cat'		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'	괭이갈매기 gwaengi-galmaegi 'cat gull'
Larus canus	Mew gull Common gull Goéland cendré Sturmmöwe Сизая чайка	カモメ (鴎) kamome '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'	갈매기 galmaegi 'gull'
Larus glaucescens	Glaucous-winged gull Goéland à ailes grises Beringmöwe Серокрылая чайка	ワシカモメ (鷲鴎) washi kamome 'eagle gull'		灰翅鸥 (灰翅鷗) huī-chì ōu 'grey-winged gull'			수리갈매기 suri-galmaegi 'eagle gull'
Larus hyperboreus	Glaucous gull Goéland bourgmestre Eismöwe Бургомистр	シロカモメ (白鴎) shiro-kamome 'white 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'		흰갈매기 huin-galmaegi 'white gull'
Larus thayeri	Thayer's gull Goéland de Thayer Thayermöwe Чайка Тэйера	カナダカモメ (カナダ鴎) kanada kamome 'Canadian gull'		泰氏银鸥 (泰氏銀鷗) tài-shì yín-ōu 'Mr Tai's silver-gull' (4) 塞耶氏银鸥 (塞耶氏銀鷗) sàiyé-shì yín-ōu 'Mr Saiye's silver-gull' (5)			캐나다갈매기 Kaenada-galmaegi 'Canadian gull'
Latin	Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru	Japanese	Other J	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Korean
Larus argentatus Taxonomy	Herring gull Goéland argenté Silbermöwe Серебристая чайка	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)		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'	옅은재갈매기 yeoteun-jae-galmaegi 'pale ash gull' Taxonomy
Larus argentatus vegae Larus vegae	Vega gull Siberian gull Goéland du Véga Ostsibirienmöwe Восточно-сибирская чайка	セグロカモメ (背黒鴎) se-guro kamome 'black-backed gull' (Internet)		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)	재갈매기 jae-galmaegi 'ash gull'
Larus cachinnans	Yellow-legged gull Caspian gull Goéland pontique Weisskopfmöwe Хохотунья	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)		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'		노랑발갈매기 norang-bal-galmaegi 'yellow-legged gull' (L. mongolicus) 카스피해갈매기 Kaseupi-hae-galmaegi 'Caspian sea gull' (L. cachinnans)
Larus schistisagus	Slaty-backed gull Goéland à manteau ardoisé Kamtschatkamöwe Тихоокеанская чайка	オオセグロカモメ (大背黒鴎) ō se-guro kamome 'large black-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'		큰재갈매기 keun-jae-galmaegi 'large ash gull'
Larus fuscus	Lesser black-backed gull Goéland brun Heringsmöwe Клуша	ニシセグロカモメ (背黒鴎) nishi se-guro kamome 'western black-backed gull' (from Internet) Taxonomy		小黑背银鸥 (小黑背銀鷗) xiǎo hēi-bèi yín-ōu 'silver-gull' (2, 5) Taxonomy	(小黑背鸥) 小黑背鷗 xiǎo hēi-bèi yín-ōu 'silver-gull'
Latin	Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru	Japanese	Other J	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Korean
Larus fuscus heuglini Larus heuglini Taxonomy	Heuglin's gull Goéland de Sibérie Goéland d'Heuglin Tundramöwe Восточная клуша Северная серебристая чайка	ホイグリンカモメ (ホイグリン鴎) hoigurin kamome 'Heuglin's gull' (from Internet) Taxonomy		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		줄무늬노랑발갈매기 jul-munui-norang-bal-galmaegi 'stripe-patterned yellow-legged gull'
Larus ichthyaetus	Great black-headed gull or Pallas's Gull Goéland ichthyaète Fischmöwe Черноголовый хохотун	オオズグロカモメ (大頭黒鴎) ō zu-guro kamome 'large black-headed gull'		渔鸥 (漁鷗) yú-ōu 'fishing gull'	(渔鸥) 漁鷗 yú-ōu 'fishing gull'		큰검은머리갈매기 keun-geomeun-meori-galmaegi 'large black-headed gull'
Larus ridibundis	Common black-headed gull Black-headed gull Mouette rieuse Lachmöwe Озерная чайка	ユリカモメ (百合鴎) yuri kamome 'lily gull'	ミヤコドリ (都鳥) miyako-dori 'capital bird' (old literary usage)	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'	붉은부리갈매기 bulgeun-buri-galmaegi 'red-billed gull'
Larus genei	Slender-billed gull Goéland railleur Dünnschnabelmöwe Морской голубок	ハシボソカモメ (嘴細鴎) hashi-boso kamome 'slender-billed gull'		细嘴鸥 (細嘴鷗) xì-zuǐ ōu 'slender-billed gull'			기린목갈매기 girin-mok-galmaegi 'qilin-necked gull' or 긴목갈매기 gin-mok-galmaegi 'long-necked gull'
Larus philadelphia	Bonaparte's gull Mouette de Bonaparte Bonapartemöwe Чайка бонапартова	ボナパルトカモメ (ボナパルト鴎) bonaparuto kamome 'Bonaparte's gull'		博氏鸥 (博氏鷗) bó-shì ōu 'Mr Bo's gull' (4) 小黑头鸥 (小黑頭鷗) xiǎo hēi-tóu ōu 'small black-headed gull' (5)
Latin	Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru	Japanese	Other J	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Korean
Larus saundersi	Saunders's gull Saunder's gull Mouette de Saunders Saundersmöwe Китайская чайка	ズグロカモメ (頭黒鴎) zu-guro kamome 'black-headed 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'	검은머리갈매기 geomeun-meori-galmaegi 'black-headed gull'
Larus relictus (No. 37)	Relict gull Relic gull Mouette relique Reliktmöwe Реликтовая чайка	ゴビズキンカモメ (ゴビ頭巾鴎) gobi zukin kamome 'Gobi hooded gull'		遗鸥 (遺鷗) yí-ōu 'relic gull'			적호갈매기 jeokho-galmaegi 'jeokho gull' or 고대갈매기 godae-galmaegi 'ancient gull'
Larus pipixcan	Franklin's gull Mouette de Franklin Präriemöwe Франклинова чайка	アメリカズグロカモメ (アメリカ頭黒鴎) amerika zu-guro kamome 'American black-headed gull'		弗氏鸥 (弗氏鷗) fú-shì ōu 'Mr Fu's gull' (4) 弗朗氏鸥 (弗郎氏鷗) fúlǎng-shì ōu 'Mr Fulang's gull' (5)
Larus minutus	Little gull Mouette pygmée Zwergmöwe Малая чайка	ヒメカモメ (姫鴎) hime kamome 'princess gull'		小鸥 (小鷗) xiǎo-ōu 'little gull'	(小鸥) 小鷗 xiǎo-ōu 'little gull'
Pagophila
Latin	Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru	Japanese	Other J	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Korean
Pagophila eburnea Larus eburneus	Ivory gull Mouette blanche Elfenbeinmöwe Белая чайка	ゾウゲカモメ (象牙鴎) zōge kamome 'ivory gull'		白鸥 (白鷗) bái-ōu 'white gull' (4) 象牙鸥 (象牙鷗) xiàngyá ōu 'ivory gull' (5)
Rhodostethia
Latin	Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru	Japanese	Other J	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Korean
Rhodostethia rosea Larus roseus	Ross's gull Wedge-tailed gull Mouette rosée Rosenmöwe Розовая чайка	ヒメクビワカモメ (姫首輪鴎) hime kubi-wa kamome 'princess neck-ringed 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'	쇠목테갈매기 soe-mok-te-galmaegi 'small throat-banded gull'
Xema
Latin	Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru	Japanese	Other J	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Korean
Xema sabini Larus sabini	Sabine's gull Mouette de Sabine Schwalbenmöwe Вилохвостая чайка	クビワカモメ (首輪鴎) kubi-wa kamome 'neck-ringed gull'		叉尾鸥 (叉尾鷗) chā-wěi ōu 'fork-tailed gull'
Rissa
Latin	Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru	Japanese	Other J	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Korean
Rissa tridactyla Larus tridactylus	Black-legged kittiwake Kittiwake Mouette tridactyle Dreizehenmöwe Моевка	ミツユビカモメ (三つ趾鴎) mitsu-yubi kamome 'three-toed gull'		三趾鸥 (三趾鷗) sān-zhǐ ōu 'three-toed gull'	(三趾鸥) 三趾鷗 sān-zhǐ ōu 'three-toed gull'		세가락갈매기 se-garak-galmaegi 'three-toed gull'
Rissa brevirostris Larus brevirostris	Red-legged kittiwake Mouette des brumes Klippenmöwe Красноногая говорушка	アカアシミツユビカモメ (赤足三つ趾鴎) aka-ashi mitsu-yubi kamome 'red-legged three-toed gull'		红腿三趾鸥 (紅腿三趾鷗) hóng-tuǐ sān-zhǐ ōu 'red-legged three-toed gull' (4) 红脚三趾鸥 (紅腳三趾鷗) hóng-jiǎo sān-zhǐ ōu 'red-footed three-toed gull' (5)

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Laridae 2