Grey-headed Gull

Larus cirrocephalus

Other Names

  Grey-hooded Gull   Mouette à tête grise, Goéland à tête grise   Graukopfmöwe   Gaviota Cabecigris   Gråhuvad mås   Grijskopmeeuw   Gabbiano testagriglia

World: Africa: Madagascar and from Gambia East to eastern african Lakes and South to South Africa. South America: Peru and from Paraguay and Brazil South to Argentina.

Kenya: Primarily Rift Valley lakes but wanders to other inland waters. Very rare on the coast.

Kenya's commonest inland gull. The picture above is of an adult in breeding plumage. Non-breeding adults have a paler hood. First year birds lack the grey hood, have a black mark behing the eye and can be confused with a Black-headed Gull in winter plumage which is paler and has a dark eye.