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Black-headed Gull
(Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
Size: 34-37 cm; wing span: 1.0-1.1 m
Weight: 190-400 g
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Physical description |
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 Click here for a physical description
Black-headed Gulls are small, slender gulls.
The two sexes are identical, but they have different
plumages during
the
breeding season and in
eclipse.
In
breeding
plumage, apart from
thin partial white eye-rings, Black-headed Gulls have a near-black,
dark-chocolate-coloured head. The relatively short neck, the
entire front and the rump are white. Only the mantle and wings
are light-grey, with white outer primaries and black tips on the
primary flight feathers. The white tail has a black terminal band
on the upperside.
The bill is very dark red.
In eclipse
they loose their black cap, leaving just two black
spots on either side of the head, above and behind the eyes.
The bill becomes pink, with a black tip.
In all seasons the wings protrude beyond the end of the tail.
The irises are dark. The legs and feet are pink to greyish-pink.
First-winter
Black-headed Gulls resemble adults in
eclipse
plumage, but
with dark centres to the wing feathers.
Juveniles
have brownish tints on the head and on the wing feathers.
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Taxonomy, classification |
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See Black-headed
Gull at Wikipedia  .
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Range, habitat, finding this species |
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Click here for information on habitat
and range
The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and
specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found,
based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to
ebird.org
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The global distribution of the Black-headed Gull is available
HERE
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Black-headed Gulls are a partly migratory species.
They are found from north-eastern Canada in the West
via Greenland and Iceland, through Europe into western
and central Asia. Especially in north-African coastal
areas, the river Nile delta, the Middle Eastern and
Arabian coastlines and further into southern Asia,
in particular the Indian coastline and also parts of
the Himalayas they spend the northern winters.
They are also found in inland central and eastern Asia,
as far East as north-east China, Korea and Japan,
occasionally also in parts of South-east Asia.
In Australia, Black-headed Gulls are only found as vagrants from Eurasia.
While in Australia, they usually stay around the northern seaboard,
where they can occasionally be found along
beaches and in
harbours.
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Sightings |
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Click here for sighting information
P. Brown reports spotting a Black-headed Gull
at Buffalo Creek, Darwin, NT, in March 2023.
All sighting and photographic information presented on this page
has been kindly contributed by P. Brown.
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Photos |
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ADULT |
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NON-BREEDING |
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Distant near-lateral view of a Black-headed Gull, front, with two
Great Crested Terns
and a Silver Gull
in the background
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Buffalo Creek, Darwin, NT, March 2023]
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Call(s)/Song |
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For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The
interpretation of their meaning is our own; are welcome.
More Black-headed Gull sound recordings are available at
xeno-canto.org
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These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our
contributors.
The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species
please refer to a field guide.
Breeding
Nest
Eggs
Behaviour
Food
are welcome.