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Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) German name(s): "Lachmöwe" Size: 34-37 cm; wing span: 1.0-1.1 m Body mass: 190-400 g Wing loading [g/cm2]: 0.29-0.31

Europe: Family Group 10 Family Group 10 Table Great Skua Arctic Skua Pomarine Skua Caspian Gull Great Black-backed Gull Lesser Black-backed Gull American Herring Gull European Herring Gull Yellow-legged Gull Audouin's Gull Slender-billed Gull Iceland Gull Common Gull Ring-billed Gull Black-headed Gull Bonaparte's Gull Mediterranean Gull Little Gull Sabine's Gull Black-legged Kittiwake Caspian Tern Sandwich Tern Gull-billed Tern Common Tern Arctic Tern Little Tern Forster's Tern Whiskered Tern Black Tern White-winged Black Tern Atlantic Puffin Razorbill Common Guillemot Black Guillemot Thumbnails page Family group table Index of bird names European birds home page

Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description 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. Twitcher's tip In order to distinguish between ADULTS of the two species, apart from the shape of the bill, it is good to know that, in any kind of plumage, Mediterranean Gulls have white tips on the primary wing feathers, while Black-headed Gulls have black wingtips. This is particularly helpful in non-breeding plumage. The easiest way of telling Black-headed Gulls apart from Bonaparte's Gull is by the colour of the bill (Black-headed Gulls have a very dark red bill that turns orange with a black tip in eclipse) and the length of the legs (the Black-headed Gull's legs being longer than Bonaparte's).

Taxonomy, classification See Black-headed Gull at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species 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 . The global distribution of the Black-headed Gull is available HERE . 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 Europe Black-headed Gulls are permanent residents almost everywhere on the British Isles, along the Icelandic coastline, the southern Norwegian coastline, the continental North Sea coastline and the southern Baltic Sea coastline. Inland they are found permanently in parts of central France and almost all of Germany, Poland, the Baltic states and also the Czech Republic and further along the river Danube to the Black Sea. From the French Alps and Italy south-eastwards they are found only on migration, except for Greece and the rest of the Mediterranean coastline, plus most of Iberia and western France, where they spend the winters. In the summer they extend their breeding range into central Scandinavia (except the mountain range) and into the rest of eastern Europe northward of the Caucasus and southward of about 60 degrees latitude. Black-headed Gulls breed in large colonies, not only in suitable habitats along the sea shores, but predominantly in reedy inland wetlands, e.g. swamps and marshes. They are very versatile omnivores that will feed on almost anything and not shy at all; hence they are also often found around rubbish tips and other places where they can scavenge food from humans.

Sightings Click here for sighting information H. Dahlem-Senger reports spotting Black-headed Gulls in two different locations. A single Black-headed Gull was found on the river Rhine, between Walluf and Eltville, Hessen, Germany, in December 2015. M. Thomas reports spotting them in the same area on various occasions during the winter months. Several Black-headed Gulls were spotted on Fehmarn island, Germany, in April 2016. H. Dahlem-Senger also found Black-headed Gulls in abundance at Neuharlingersiel, Ostfriesland, Germany, in September 2024. D. Wilczynska reports spotting Black-headed Gulls in wetlands along the river Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, in March 2017. G. Pinelas reports finding Black-headed Gulls in various locations near Lisbon, Portugal, in the timeframe November 2017 to January 2018. J. Pires reports finding Black-headed Gulls regularly, all year round, in the area from Lisbon and the Tejo estuary to Mora, Evora, Portugal. The species is also found regularly in other areas of Portugal. M. Thomas reports spotting Black-headed Gulls near Odense, Denmark in September 2017, and another at Lake Constance, Germany, in April 2019. They were also found in Eltville, Hessen, Germany, in March 2020. M. Eaton found a Black-headed Gull on the river Ebro in Mequinenza, Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain, in September 2019. M. Eaton also spotted a Black-headed Gull in Hyde Park, London, England, in September 2019. C. Pears reports finding Black-headed Gulls in the Lake District, Cumbria, England, UK, in January 2011, and again in September 2024. Black-headed Gulls were also spotted by C. Pears in Bergen, Norway, in October 2024. A. Sarok found Black-headed Gulls in Vojvodina, Serbia, in the timeframe 2010-2024. A Black-headed Gull has also been reported to us from Australia.

Photos

ADULT

Sex unknown

BREEDING

Frontal view of a Black-headed Gull in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, March 2019]

Near-frontal view of a Black-headed Gull in breeding plumage; note the black wingtips (photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, March 2020]

Lateral view of a Black-headed Gull in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, March 2017]

Lateral view of a Black-headed Gull in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, March 2017]

Lateral and dorsal views of Black-headed Gulls in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, March 2017]

Two Black-headed Gulls in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, March 2017]

Near-frontal view of a Black-headed Gull in breeding plumage in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Alhos Vedros, Portugal, July 2020]

Lateral view of a Black-headed Gull in breeding plumage in flight, wings down - note the black tips of the primaries
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Montijo, Tejo estuary, Portugal, March 2019]

Lateral view of a Black-headed Gull in breeding plumage in flight, wings up (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Montijo, Tejo estuary, Portugal, March 2019]

NON-BREEDING

Lateral view of a Black-headed Gull moulting into breeding plumage in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, March 2019]

Near-lateral view of a Black-headed Gull moulting into breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Montijo, Tejo estuary, Portugal, February 2019]

Lateral view of a Black-headed Gull starting to moult into breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Ponte das Enguias, Tejo estuary, Portugal, April 2019]

Frontal view of a Black-headed Gull in non-breeding plumage looking downward (photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Sesimbra, Setubal, Portugal, November 2017]

Frontal view of a moulting Black-headed Gull (photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Dafundo, Oeiras, Portugal, January 2018]

Near-frontal view of a Black-headed Gull in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Dafundo, Oeiras, Portugal, January 2018]

Near-frontal view of a Black-headed Gull in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, November 2021]

Near-frontal view of a Black-headed Gull in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Port of Sesimbra, Setubal, Portugal, January 2022]

Near-lateral portrait of a Black-headed Gull in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Dafundo, Oeiras, Lisbon, Portugal, December 2017]

Near-lateral view of a Black-headed Gull; the facial pattern, together with the pink bill with black tip and the pink legs are characteristic for the species' eclipse plumage (photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Odense, Denmark, September 2017]

Lateral view of a Black-headed Gull in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Almada, Setubal, Portugal, January 2023]

Lateral view of a Black-headed Gull in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Hyde Park, London, England, September 2019]

Lateral view of a Black-headed Gull in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Alhos Vedros, Portugal, January 2020]

Lateral view of a Black-headed Gull in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Salinas do Samouco, Tejo estuary, Portugal, October 2019]

Lateral view of a Black-headed Gull in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Vila Franca de Xira, Portugal, January 2020]

Lateral view of a Black-headed Gull in non-breeding plumage, back; the bird in front is moulting (photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Dafundo, Oeiras, Portugal, January 2018]

Lateral view of two Black-headed Gulls in non-breeding plumage calling (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake District, Cumberland, England, September 2024]

Three phases of Black-headed Gull plumage: breeding, bottom right; moulting, centre left; eclipse back right
(photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Dafundo, Oeiras, Portugal, January 2018]

Near-dorsal view of a moulting Black-headed Gull (photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Dafundo, Oeiras, Portugal, January 2018]

Near-dorsal view of a Black-headed Gull in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Parque da cidade, Porto, Portugal, December 2019]

Dorsal view of a Black-headed Gull in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Montijo, Tejo estuary, Portugal, January 2019]

Black-headed Gulls in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Moita do Ribatejo, Setubal, Portugal, November 2018]

Black-headed Gulls in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Salinas do Forte do Rato, Tavira, Faro, Algarve, Portugal, September 2020]

Mob of Black-headed Gulls in non-breeding plumage on flotsam on a bank of the river Rhine (photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, January 2013]

Colony of Black-headed Gulls in non-breeding plumage on their winter roost, together with other seabirds
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[November 2017]

Near-lateral view of a Black-headed Gull in non-breeding plumage in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sapal de Alhos Vedros, Moita, Setubal, Portugal, August 2022]

Mob of Black-headed Gulls in non-breeding plumage taking off (photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, December 2012]

Lateral view of part of a large flock of Black-headed Gulls in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mondego River estuary, Murraceira Island, Figueira da Foz, Portugal, November 2021]

Near-dorsal view of a Black-headed Gull in non-breeding plumage in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, January 2023]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Near-lateral view of a first-summer Black-headed Gull in flight; note the residual white on the head and the worn juvenile wing feathers (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2019]

Near-lateral view of a first-winter Black-headed Gull (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Almada, Setubal, Portugal, January 2023]

Near-lateral view of a first-winter Black-headed Gull (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Douro River, Porto, Portugal, November 2021]

Near-lateral view of an first-winter Black-headed Gull; note the dark centres of the wing feathers, while the head is starting to moult into adult plumage (photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Friedrichshafen, Lake Constance, Germany, April 2019]

One of two first-winter Black-headed Gulls in a mob overwintering on the river Rhine; note the dark centres of the wing feathers (photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, January 2013]

Lateral view of a first-winter Black-headed Gull (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Dafundo beach, Oeiras, Lisbon, Portugal, July 2019]

Lateral view of a first-winter Black-headed Gull (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, August 2019]

Frontal view of a first-winter Black-headed Gull in flight (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake District, Cumberland, England, September 2024]

Lateral view of a first-winter Black-headed Gull in flight, wings up (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, August 2019]

Lateral view of a first-winter Black-headed Gull in flight (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake District, Cumberland, England, September 2024]

Partly obscured near-frontal view of a juvenile Black-headed Gull (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, August 2019]

Lateral view of a juvenile Black-headed Gull (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, August 2019]

Lateral view of a preening juvenile Black-headed Gull (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, July 2019]

Lateral view of a juvenile Black-headed Gull (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Dafundo beach, Oeiras, Lisbon, Portugal, July 2019]

Near-frontal view of a juvenile Black-headed Gull in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, August 2019]

Near-lateral view of a juvenile Black-headed Gull in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, August 2019]

Juvenile Black-headed Gull banking sharply to land (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, July 2019]

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Communal

Mobility: Partially migratory

Elementary unit: Flock

Black-headed Gulls are sedentary in parts of the Mediterranean, in western and central Europe, up to the Baltic states and the Danube River. Elsewhere they are migratory.

Field guides mention the variability of the shape of the hood of some gull species. Here an example.

Different lateral views of the head of Black-headed Gulls (photos courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger and D. Wilczynska)

Food, Diet

Lateral view of a Black-headed Gull with its prey, a small fish (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Morraceira island, Figueira da Foz, Mondego estuary, Portugal, January 2023]

Frontal view of a Black-headed Gull with what looks like a freshwater crayfish (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, October 2021]

Mob of Black-headed Gulls hunting fish in shallow water (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Morraceira island, Figueira da Foz, Mondego estuary, Portugal, January 2023]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

blhgull_dw_20170316.m4a	(Poland)	Contact calls? (small flock)	© DW
blhgull_dw_20170316_2.m4a	(Poland)	Contact calls? (small flock)	© DW
blhgull_dw_20190519.m4a	(Poland)	Contact calls? (small flock)	© DW
blhgull_dw_20170319.m4a	(Poland)	Contact calls? (small flock)	© DW

More Black-headed Gull sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

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.

Would you like to contribute photos or sound recordings to this site? If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.