A unique medium-sized, lightly-built gull, confined to the Red Sea. Upperparts dark brown or gray. The bill is long, slender, and slightly downcurved. Adults have black hood with a prominent white eyering. Young birds are browner with a paler head. Compared to the similar-looking Sooty Gull it is smaller and more delicate with a thinner all-dark bill, and lacks the two-toned bill pattern. Breeds on remote islands and coral reefs; mainly coastal.