A gull endemic to the Mediterranean, recognisable by its coral-red bill with a black band and its grey-green legs. It nests in colonies on islets and stretches of rocky coast with little access: Mal di Ventre Island and the surrounding rocks are among the sites used by the species in the Sinis.
It feeds mainly on small pelagic fish caught in the open sea, often at night. Colonies are extremely sensitive to disturbance during the breeding season (April–June): landing and stopping on nesting islets are regulated by the Marine Protected Area rules.