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Black-headed Gull

Larus ridibundusOrder: CHARADRIIFORMES Family: Skuas, Gulls, Terns, Skimmers (Laridae)
Codes: Common Name: BHGU Scientific Name: LARRID ITIS Taxonomic No.: 176835
Least Concern
 
Black-headed Gull: The breeding adult Black-headed Gull has a pale gray back and upperwings and a dark brown hood. The nape, neck, breast, belly and tail are white. The bill and legs are dark red.
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Black-headed Gull Variations

Black-headed Gull
Winter Adult
Black-headed Gull
Black-headed Gull
Breeding Adult
Black-headed Gull

Birdman Mel's Backyard Tips
Jelly Jar Jelly Feeder
The orange "blossum" replaces the lid of a jelly jar.
Attract Orioles with Fruit
Sliced orange secures easily to the center of the ring. Low cost.
Attract with Nectar
Hex shaped nectar feeds several Orioles. Nectar kept in fridge.
Charm and Attraction
Lovely copper umbrella keeps fruit cool and looks great.

Overview

Black-headed Gull: Medium-sized gull with pale gray back and upperwings and dark brown face and partial hood. Nape, neck, breast, belly, and tail are white. Bill and legs are dark red. Wings have white triangular panel formed at the leading edge of black-tipped primaries in flight.

Range and Habitat

Black-headed Gull: Breeds from southern Greenland through most of Europe and central Asia to Kamchatka and northeast China. Spends winters in west and east Africa, Malaysia and the Philippines. In North America breeds along Atlantic coast from Labrador, Newfoundland, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia south to New York (Long Island), rarely farther south and west, and in Old World. Nests in coastal and freshwater marshes, gravel pits, and lakes; spends winters on estuaries, inland wetlands, reservoirs, ploughed fields, pastures, and landfills.

Topo Map: Gull-like Body


Listen to Call

Voice Text

"kree-aaa"

Interesting Facts

 A group of gulls has many collective nouns, including a "flotilla", "gullery", "screech", "scavenging", and "squabble" of gulls.


Bird Term Glossary



Author

Gary Owen Dick

Splitbar
Range Map for Black-headed Gull

Related Birds

Black-legged Kittiwake
Bonaparte's Gull
Sabine's Gull
Laughing Gull
Little Gull
.
Family Gull (Laridae)_blue
Species Larus ridibundus
Length13.5 - 14.5 Inches
Wingspan41 Inches

Black-headed Gull

Black-headed Gull: Medium-sized gull with pale gray back and upperwings and dark brown face and partial hood. Nape, neck, breast, belly, and tail are white. Bill and legs are dark red. Wings have white triangular panel formed at the leading edge of black-tipped primaries in flight.

● Song: "kree-aaa"

● Foraging & Feeding: Black-headed Gull: Feeds on insects, worms, carrion and scraps, scavenges on household and industrial waste, and steals food from other birds.

● Breeding & nesting: Black-headed Gull: Two to four gray green or yellow eggs marked with brown and olive are laid in a scrape on the ground or on a pile of dead plant material. Incubation ranges from 21 to 27 days and is carried out by both parents.

● Similar species: Black-headed Gull: Bonaparte's Gull has dark bill in all plumages and is pale under primaries. Adult Little Gull lacks black on upper surface of wings and has dark bill and underwings.

Flight Pattern

Bouyant direct flight.
Black-headed Gull: Breeding Adult
● Range & Habitat: Black-headed Gull: Breeds from southern Greenland through most of Europe and central Asia to Kamchatka and northeast China. Spends winters in west and east Africa, Malaysia and the Philippines. In North America breeds along Atlantic coast from Labrador, Newfoundland, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia south to New York (Long Island), rarely farther south and west, and in Old World. Nests in coastal and freshwater marshes, gravel pits, and lakes; spends winters on estuaries, inland wetlands, reservoirs, ploughed fields, pastures, and landfills.
BreedingMonogamous
PopulationYes but uncommon
MigrationMigratory
Weight10 Ounces
Gull-like BodyX
BellyX
The ventral part of the bird, or the area between the flanks on each side and the crissum and breast. Flight muscles are located between the belly and the breast.
BreastX
The upper front part of a bird.
FaceX
The front part of the head consisting of the bill, eyes, cheeks and chin.
NapeX
Also called the hindneck or collar, it is the back of the neck where the head joins the body.
PrimariesX
The primaries are the flight feathers specialized for flight. They are attached to the "hand" equivalent part of the wing.
4 and 6 letter alpha codesX

The four letter common name alpha code is is derived from the first two letters of the common first name and the first two letters of common last name. The six letter species name alpha code is derived from the first three letters of the scientific name (genus) and the first three letters of the scientific name (species). See (1) below for the rules used to create the codes..

Four-letter (for English common names) and six-letter (for scientific names) species alpha codes were developed by Pyle and DeSante (2003, North American Bird-Bander 28:64-79) to reflect A.O.U. taxonomy and nomenclature (A.O.U. 1998) as modified by Supplements 42 (Auk 117:847-858, 2000) and 43 (Auk 119:897-906, 2002). The list has been updated by Pyle and DeSante to reflect changes reported by the A.O.U from 2003 through 2006.

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ITIS CodesX

The Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) was established in the mid-1990�s as a cooperative project among several federal agencies to improve and expand upon taxonomic data (known as the NODC Taxonomic Code) maintained by the National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

To find the ITIS page for a bird species go to the ITIS web site advanced search and report page at http://www.itis.gov/advanced_search.html. You can enter the TSN or the common name of the bird. It will return the ITIS page for that bird. Another way to obtain the ITIS page is to use the Google search engine. Enter the string ITIS followed by the taxonomic ID, for example "ITIS 178041" will return the page for the Allen's Hummingbird.

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Parts of a Standing birdX
Head Feathers and MarkingsX
Parts of a Flying birdX