Black-headed Gull

Overview

Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) is a species of Gulls, Terns, Skimmers (Laridae) in the order Shorebirds, Gulls and Alcids. A small gull with a chocolate-brown hood in summer (not black) and red legs; highly gregarious, wintering on coasts, lakes and city rivers; opportunistic feeder following plows and picking scraps.

Scientific Classification

Genus: Chroicocephalus; binomial: Chroicocephalus ridibundus; authority: (Linnaeus, 1766). Typical size: 34-37cm. Average lifespan: 10-20 years.

Distribution

Breeding range: the Palearctic. Non-breeding range: AF, IO, OR : to coasts and offshore waters of n Atlantic Canada, se Greenland, North Sea and w Atlantic to Mediterranean and marginal seas; to Canary Is. and wc Africa; Arabian Sea and associated gulfs, n Indian Ocean; w North Pacific coasts from Japan to se China and Philippines; also inland in parts of Africa, Indian Subcontinent and se Asia.

Conservation Status

This taxon is listed as Extant (living) in the IOC World Bird List.

Remarks

English name of Chroicocephalus (Larus) ridibundus reverts to Black-headed Gull with adoption of Pallas's Gull for Larus ichthyaetus.