Birds
Black-headed Gull
Chroicocephalus ridibundus · also called black-headed gulls
Wearing a hood that looks dark from a distance but is really chocolate-brown up close, a black-headed gull spends much of the year with a plain white head instead, a small identification twist packed into one of Europe’s most common and gregarious gulls.
Overview
The black-headed gull, Chroicocephalus ridibundus, is a small, highly gregarious gull native to coastal and wetland habitat across a broad range spanning Europe and Asia. Its misleadingly named chocolate-brown breeding hood, frequent presence on inland lakes and farmland far from any coast, and habit of gathering in large, noisy flocks make it one of the most familiar and widely recognised gull species across its range.
A name that doesn’t quite fit
Few birds carry a common name as slightly inaccurate as the black-headed gull, whose breeding hood is genuinely chocolate-brown rather than black, a detail easy to miss unless the bird is seen up close in good light.
Status
Least Concern, remaining widespread and stable across suitable coastal and wetland habitat throughout Europe and Asia.
Black-headed Gull: common questions
Is the black-headed gull's head actually black?
No, despite its name, this species develops a hood during the breeding season that is actually chocolate-brown rather than true black, and for most of the year it shows a plain white head marked only by a small dark ear spot.
Why is the black-headed gull often found far from the coast?
This species is one of the smaller and more adaptable gull species, frequently found well away from the coast on lakes, rivers, and farmland, making it as much a bird of inland waters as of the sea.
Is the black-headed gull a social species?
Yes, this species is highly gregarious, often gathering in large, noisy flocks at both breeding colonies and feeding sites, a social behaviour typical of many gull species.
How can you identify a black-headed gull?
This species can be identified by its red bill and legs, small size relative to many other gulls, and its distinctive chocolate-brown breeding hood, which is replaced by a plain white head with a small dark ear spot outside the breeding season.