Scuttle from Disney’s The Little Mermaid is a seagull in the original 1989 animated movie, while in the 2023 live‑action adaptation the character is redesigned as a Northern gannet, a large diving seabird.

Quick Scoop: What kind of bird is Scuttle?

In the classic animated Little Mermaid , Scuttle is simply described and depicted as a goofy, coastal seagull , Ariel’s flying friend who claims to be an “expert” on human objects. He’s the one who calls a fork a “dinglehopper” and a pipe a “snarfblatt,” acting as comic relief while helping Ariel interpret the human world.

For the 2023 live‑action remake, the filmmakers changed Scuttle to a Northern gannet , a real‑world seabird that naturally dives and spends more time in and around the ocean. This switch makes it more plausible for Scuttle to interact with Ariel underwater and close to the sea surface, since gannets are known for dramatic plunge‑diving from height into the ocean.

So, if you’re answering “what kind of bird is Scuttle” today:

  • In the 1989 animated film: Scuttle is a seagull.
  • In the 2023 live‑action film: Scuttle is a Northern gannet.

In fandom discussions and current forum threads, you’ll often see people clarify it as “Scuttle is a seagull in the original, but a gannet in the live‑action reboot,” especially when comparing designs or debating which version feels more accurate to ocean life.

Extra Fun Context (Short)

  • Scuttle’s personality: eccentric, confident, frequently wrong about human stuff, but loyal and helpful to Ariel.
  • Pop‑culture impact: the “dinglehopper” gag is still quoted in memes and online conversations whenever people jokingly misname everyday objects.
  • 2020s trend: The species swap to a gannet is often cited as an example of Disney trying to ground its remakes a bit more in realistic animal behavior while still keeping the character’s classic humor.

TL;DR: Scuttle is a seagull in the original animated Little Mermaid , but a Northern gannet in the 2023 live‑action version.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.