Black-headed Gull
Chroicocephalus ridibundus
The Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) is a common skimmers, noddies, terns, and gull found in 147 countries. The black-headed gull is a small gull that breeds in much of the Palearctic in Europe and Asia, and also locally in smaller numbers in coastal eastern Canada.
About the Black-headed Gull
The black-headed gull is a small gull that breeds in much of the Palearctic in Europe and Asia, and also locally in smaller numbers in coastal eastern Canada. Most of the population is migratory and winters further south, but many also remain in the milder areas of northwestern Europe. It was formerly sometimes cited as "common black-headed gull" to distinguish it from "great black-headed gull".
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
This gull is 34–39 cm (13+1⁄2–15+1⁄2 in) long with a 100–110 cm (39+1⁄2–43+1⁄2 in) wingspan and weighs 166–400 g (5+7⁄8–14+1⁄8 oz); males (186–400 g) average heavier than females (166–350 g), but with considerable overlap. In flight, the white leading edge of the outer wing (the outer primaries) is a good field mark, particularly combined with the dark underside of the inner primaries, which distinguishes it from the white underside of those feathers in its close relative the Bonaparte's gull.
What the Black-headed Gull sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Australia, South Africa, Nigeria, Guinea, Somalia, Colombia.
When to see it
The Black-headed Gull can be seen all year round, with peak activity in June. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Black-headed Gull?
- This gull is 34–39 cm (13+1⁄2–15+1⁄2 in) long with a 100–110 cm (39+1⁄2–43+1⁄2 in) wingspan and weighs 166–400 g (5+7⁄8–14+1⁄8 oz); males (186–400 g) average heavier than females (166–350 g), but with considerable overlap. Full identification notes are on this page.
- Where can you see a Black-headed Gull?
- The Black-headed Gull occurs in 147 countries, including the United Kingdom, Sweden, Finland, France and Spain.
- What does a Black-headed Gull sound like?
- You can listen to 3 field recordings of the Black-headed Gull on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Black-headed Gull?
- The Black-headed Gull is most easily confused with the Bonaparte's Gull, the Silver Gull and the Brown-hooded Gull.
- Is the Black-headed Gull endangered?
- The Black-headed Gull is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Black-headed Gull for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
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