Black-headed Gull

Chroicocephalus ridibundus - Mouette rieuse

Systematics
  • Order 
    :

    Charadriiformes

  • Family
    :

    Laridés

  • Genus
    :

    Chroicocephalus

  • Species
    :

    ridibundus

Descriptor

Linnaeus, 1766

Biometrics
  • Size
    : 43 cm
  • Wingspan
    : 94 à 110 cm.
  • Weight
    : 225 à 350 g
Longevity

32 years

Geographic range

Distribution

Identification

Mouette rieuse
adult plum. breeding
Mouette rieuse
adult plum. post breeding

The Black-headed Gull is a medium-sized, slim and elegant gull. The adult bird in breeding plumage can be identified by its dark brown cap, appearing black from a distance. It covers very little of the neck. The upperparts are fairly light grey. All the underparts are white. The black tips of the primary feathers point backwards. The tail is white. The beak and legs are dark red. Two white crescents encircle the dark eye. In flight the black and white pattern of the hand is typical. The adult bird in winter plumage has lost its cap, leaving only traces, two dark spots in front of the eye, two others behind the eyes, a faint dark band materializing the back of the cap and often another band between the eyes. From a distance, however, the head appears white. The beak and legs are a brighter red. With its dark spots on the head, the juvenile resembles the adult, but the entire upperparts have very marked brown coloration, which extends from the mantle onto the bottom of the neck, forming a hint of a collar. The tail is white and tipped black. The beak and legs are yellowish, the former with a dark tip. From the first winter, the plumage will lighten. Grey appears on the back. The brown will persist mostly on the coverts, small and medium, and on the tertiaries. The beak and legs become a bit orange. The adult plumage will not be fully developed until the bird reaches its third Civilian Year. Meanwhile, the plumage changes gradually from the original brown, an immature trait, to become increasingly grey and white. The dark brown cap is usually acquired by birds that are at least two years old. However some individuals may develop a more or less complete cap from the first summer. In such cases it is necessary to look closely at the overall plumage to detect any immature traits, such as a dark tip of the tail, before determining the age of the bird.

Subspecific information monotypic species

Foreign names

  • Mouette rieuse,
  • Gaviota reidora,
  • garrincho-comum,
  • Lachmöwe,
  • dankasirály,
  • Kokmeeuw,
  • Gabbiano comune,
  • skrattmås,
  • Hettemåke,
  • čajka smejivá,
  • racek chechtavý,
  • Hættemåge,
  • naurulokki,
  • Swartkopmeeu,
  • gavina riallera,
  • Hettumáfur,
  • (mewa) śmieszka,
  • lielais ķīris,
  • rečni galeb,
  • Озёрная чайка,
  • Camar perak,
  • ユリカモメ,
  • 红嘴鸥,
  • นกนางนวลขอบปีกขาว,
  • 紅嘴鷗〔黑頭鷗〕,

Voice song and cries

Mouette rieuse
adult

The typical call of the Black-headed Gull is harsh. They are very noisy birds and short calls can be heard in colonies, and during quarrels. The Black-headed Gull makes long screeches and short, repeated yelps.

Habitat

Mouette rieuse
adult plum. breeding

The Black-headed Gull breeds on the edges of marshes, ponds and lakes, and in clearings in boreal forest regions. It winters in varied coastal habitats, from coastal waters to ports, salt marshes and estuaries. It can be found in towns, in urban parks with water.

Behaviour character trait

Mouette rieuse
adult plum. breeding

The Black-headed Gull is very gregarious outside of the breeding season. It feeds and sleeps in large groups.

Mouette rieuse
adult
This bird is an opportunist that cleans up cities and beaches, or forages in ploughed fields. Indeed, groups follow the plough and capture worms and other invertebrates. It also feeds by walking, swimming, and diving to capture fish following fishing boats. It also flies above the waves and pecks for insects at the surface. Some disputes may occur with nest neighbours, and the Black-headed Gull adopts special postures. Other displays show the bird in varied attitudes. The Black-headed Gull is monogamous and faithful to the nest site where it returns each year. It can form mixed colonies with terns. The nuptial display is at its peak when the male regurgitates food to the female. Mating takes place shortly afterwards.

Flight

Mouette rieuse
adult plum. breeding

The Black-headed Gull performs a fast and active flight. It can hover and glide, and even catch insects on the wing.

Dietfeeding habits

Mouette rieuse
adult plum. breeding

The Black-headed Gull mainly feeds on all sorts of invertebrates, land and aquatic ones (insects and their larvae, worms, small crustaceans, mollusks, etc.) as well as small fish. It also very occasionally consumes fruits and seeds.

Reproduction nesting

Mouette rieuse
adult plum. breeding

Black-headed Gulls nest in large colonies, up to 1,000 pairs or more. The nests are about one to five metres apart. It is a fairly large nest on the ground or in low, wet vegetation. It is a shallow depression lined with vegetation. The female lays two to three olive-brown, speckled with brown eggs, towards late April-early May. Incubation lasts about 22 to 26 days. The young stay in the nest for about a week and are semi-precocial. They really leave the nest at the age of 32 to 35 days.

Geographic range

Threats - protection

Mouette rieuse
juvenile
IUCN conservation status
Extinct
Threatened
Least
concern
Extinc
in the Wild
Near
threatened
Not
evaluated
EX EW CR EN VU NT LC NE

The populations of Black-headed Gulls stretch around the world, gradually colonizing other countries, from the mid-latitudes in Europe and Asia to the subarctic zones.

Sources of information

Other sources of interest

QRcode Mouette rieuseSpecification sheet created on 13/07/2023 by
Translation by AI Oiseaux.net
published: - Updated: 30-05-2017
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