The Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus),called Skrattmås in Skåne, is a small gull that breeds in much of Europe and Asia, and also in coastal eastern Canada. Most of the population is migratory and winters further south, but some birds reside in the milder westernmost areas of Europe. Some Black-headed Gulls also spend the winter in northeastern North America, where it was formerly known as the common Black-headed Gull. As is the case with many gulls, it was previously placed in the genus Larus.
The genus name Chroicocephalus is from Ancient Greek khroizo, "to colour", and kephale, "head". The specific ridibundus is Latin for "laughing", from ridere "to laugh".
Distribution To be found over much of Europe, except Spain, Italy and Greece, also Japan and E China. It is an occasional visitor to the east coast of North America.
Range map from www.oiseaux.net - Ornithological Portal Oiseaux.net
www.oiseaux.netis one of those MUST visit pages if you're in to bird watching. You can find just about everything there
Description This gull is 38–44 cm long with a 94–105 cm wingspan. In flight, the white leading edge to the wing is a good field mark.
The summer adulthas a chocolate-brown head (not black, although does look black from a distance), pale grey body, black tips to the primary wing feathers, and red bill and legs.
The hood is lost in winter, leaving just 2 dark spots.
Juvenileshave orange bill and orange legs
Adult - Mostly grey and white
Muscat, Oman - December 2018
Juvenile - Dark band on wings and tail
Muscat, Oman - December 2018
Adult - Red bill and feet
Kiel Canal, Germany - August 2018
Juvenile - Orange bill and feet
Muscat, Oman - December 2018
Adult - Grey back
Kiel Canal, Germany - August 2018
Juvenile - Black and brown back
Muscat, Oman - December 2018
1st Winter and Adult in breeding plumage
Helsingborg, Sweden - February 2021
1st Winter and Adult in breeding plumage
Helsingborg, Sweden - February 2021
Length: 38-44 cm
Wingspan: 94-105 cm
Weight: 225-350 g
Longevity: 32 Years
Distinctive Feature
• WHITE EYES - Head chocolate brown which does not reach nape or neck during the summer
Similar Species
•Brown-headed Gullis very similar but they show different wing patterns and adults have white eyes. Juvenile Brown-headed Gulls have solid black wing-tips and white restricted to streaks on inner primaries and primary coverts dark-streaked.
Immature birds have a mottled pattern of brown spots over most of the body. It breeds in colonies in large reed beds or marshes, or on islands in lakes, nesting on the ground. Like most gulls, it is highly gregarious in winter, both when feeding or in evening roosts. It is not a pelagic species and is rarely seen at sea far from coasts.
Nest building
Lake Hornborga /Hornborgasjön - April 2019
Adult with building material
Lake Hornborga /Hornborgasjön - April 2019
Adult with building material
Lake Hornborga /Hornborgasjön - April 2019
Adult with building material
Lake Hornborga /Hornborgasjön - April 2019
The Black-headed Gull is a bold and opportunistic feeder. It eats insects, fish, seeds, worms, scraps, and carrion in towns, or invertebrates in ploughed fields with equal relish. It is a noisy species, especially in colonies, with a familiar "kree-ar" call. Its scientific name means laughing gull.
This species takes two years to reach maturity. First-year birds have a black terminal tail band, more dark areas in the wings, and, in summer, a less fully developed dark hood.
Like most gulls, Black-headed Gulls are long-lived birds, with a maximum age of at least 32.9 years recorded in the wild, in addition to an anecdote now believed of dubious authenticity regarding a 63-year-old bird.
Adult in breeding plumage and two babies
Haparanda, Sweden - July 2018
Baby
Haparanda, Sweden - July 2018
Baby
Haparanda, Sweden - July 2018
Juvenile
Haparanda, Sweden - July 2018
A very young baby
Haparanda, Sweden - July 2018
Juvenile
Holiday Inn Ellesmere Port, United Kingdom - August 2018
Adult moulting in to winter plumage
Hoylake, United Kingdom - August 2018
Adult in winter plumage - Darvic Ring AD358 And we can see that the bird is not yet in full winter (non breeding) plumage
Kiel Canal, Germany - August 2018
By Touty at www.birdforum.net:Darvics are numbered plastic rings which are read in the field, for example on Mute Swans. The name comes from the Darvic PVC sheeting used to make the rings.
Recorded with my ZOOM H5 Handy recorder. High Pass filter in Audacity applied
Leaving the Wallasey Embankment after having been looking for waders along the Wallasey Embankment. I see a Black-headed Gull and a Lesser Black-backed Gull out on the mudflats. Too FAR AWAY for any pictures.
One sound recording cut in to two, first part with the Lesser Black-backed Gull uploaded to www.xeno-canto.org as well: XC437520