Black-headed Gull

Larus ridibundus

Other Pics: First Winter Black-headed Gull , Winter Adult Black-headed Gull

Other Names

  Common Black-headed Gull   Mouette rieuse   Lachmöwe   Gaviota Reidora   Skrattmås   Kokmeeuw   Gabbiano comune

World: From southern Greenland through most of Europe and Central Asia to Kamchatka and North-East China; north-eastern North America. Winters in West and East Africa, Malaysia and the Phillipines.

Kenya: Regular palearctic migrant to the Rift Valley and the Coast.

Like many gulls the black-headed comes in a variety of plumages. Non-breeding birds have white heads with a black mark behind the eye. First winter birds differ from non-breeding adults in having a black band on the tail, brown wing markings and the dark-tipped bill is yellowish rather than red. Breeding birds have a dark brown hood, while juveniles look completely different with reddish brown markings on the upper parts and head. First year birds are very similar to first year Grey-headed Gull but with darker head markings and tail band. Most commonly seen on Lakes Turkana and Nakuru.