Chroicocephalus ridibundus
The Black-headed Gull, Chroicocephalus ridibundus, is a familiar and highly adaptable species, recognized by its distinctive chocolate-brown (not black) head in breeding plumage. Measuring 37-44 cm (14.5-17.3 in) in length with a wingspan of 90-110 cm (35-43 in) and weighing 200-350 g (7-12.3 oz), adults in summer boast a white body, pale grey back and upperwings, and conspicuous white leading edges on their primary feathers, often called a "white wedge." Its slender bill and legs are a vibra...
Highly adaptable, the Black-headed Gull inhabits a wide array of environments, primarily preferring freshwater wetlands, coastal areas, estuaries, agricultural fields, and urban parks at low elevations. It thrives in open, often disturbed landscapes near water sources.
An opportunistic omnivore, its diet predominantly consists of insects (especially flies, beetles, and larvae), earthworms, small fish, crustaceans, mollusks, seeds, carrion, and human food waste, acquired through aerial hawking, probing, surface feeding, and scavenging.
Black-headed Gulls are primarily diurnal, engaging in active foraging and social interactions throughout the day, often gathering in large, noisy communal roosts on open water or sheltered ground at night. Their foraging strategies are highly opportunistic and varied, including aerial hawking for...
The Black-headed Gull possesses an expansive Palearctic breeding range, extending across most of Europe from Ireland and the UK eastward through Scandinavia, Central Europe, and Russia, reaching into Central and East Asia, including parts of Mongolia, China, and Japan. Its wintering grounds are e...
Least Concern
- Despite its common name, the Black-headed Gull's breeding plumage head is actually a deep chocolate-brown, not black. - This species is one of the most widespread gulls globally, with a breeding range spanning across Europe and Asia. - They are highly adaptable and are increasingly found in urb...