Species · GBIF taxon 6065824
Black-headed Gull
Chroicocephalus ridibundusAlso known as Common Black-headed Gull
Black-headed gulls are highly adaptable, gregarious birds easily recognized in summer by their dark chocolate-brown hoods, which fade to a small dark smudge behind the eye in winter. They are active, noisy foragers that frequently gather in large, squawking flocks over inland lakes, coastal marshes, and urban parks. These resourceful gulls often follow agricultural plows to snatch exposed grubs or steal food from other shorebirds.
MigratorySocialAdaptable
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Insects
- Small Fish
- Earthworms
Predators
- Peregrine Falcons
- Red Foxes
- Large Gulls
ThreatsHabitat loss, water pollution, and disturbance at nesting colonies
HabitatsCoastal marshes, estuaries, lakes, rivers, agricultural fields, and urban parks
Life span10 to 15 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyLaridae
- SpeciesChroicocephalus ridibundus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Observe winter plumage: Look for the characteristic dark spot behind the eye, which replaces the full hood during non-breeding months.
- Avoid feeding bread: Offer healthier alternatives like mealworms or oats if feeding them in urban parks.
- Listen for calls: Identify them by their harsh, screeching vocalizations in crowded flocks.
Frequent Companion (c) Andreas Trepte, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Competitor Rhododendrites / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative "Bonaparte's Gull" by marknenadov is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/. · cc-by
Close Relative
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