Black Headed Gull - chroicocephalus ridibundus
by Yvonne Johnstone
Title
Black Headed Gull - chroicocephalus ridibundus
Artist
Yvonne Johnstone
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
The Black-headed Gull is one of the few hooded gulls that does not actually have a black head during breeding. Its hood is dark chocolate brown in Summer. The adults also have a distinctive dull red bill and legs. Most of the upper wings and back are pale grey, with the rest of the plumage being white. In winter, the distinctive ‘black’ hood becomes white, leaving just dark spots behind each eye.
This species of gull takes two years to reach maturity, acquiring adult plumage in its second winter. The juvenile can look like a strange wader, with strikingly different plumage to that of the adult. It has ginger-brown upper-parts and head markings, brown wing markings, black tail band and yellowish legs and a bill with a dark tip. Many acquire a partial hood in the first summer.
The black-headed gull feeds on varied food items including aquatic and terrestrial insects, earthworms, marine invertebrates, some fish, grains and berries.
Uploaded
February 23rd, 2022
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