During the winter months, the black-headed gull has strikingly different plumage compared to its breeding plumage in the summer. Here are the key features of the black-headed gull’s winter plumage:
Head
In the summer, the black-headed gull has a chocolate brown head. In winter, the head becomes completely white, with just a dark spot behind the eye.
Body
The body feathers are gray above and white below in both seasons. However, in winter the gray back and upperwing feathers have pale fringes, giving a more scaled appearance.
Wings
The wingtips remain black in winter, but the black area shrinks compared to summer. The primary feathers become blackish-gray with white fringes.
Legs and feet
The legs and feet change from red in summer to a pale gray in winter.
Differences between adults and juveniles
Juveniles in their first winter resemble adults, but have some darker markings on their wings and back. Their legs are initially pinkish, turning gray by their first spring.
Reasons for the plumage change
The black-headed gull’s plumage change from breeding to non-breeding seasons is related to camouflage, signaling and feather wear.
- The black head may be for courtship signaling, while the white head provides camouflage in winter.
- The scaled gray back provides better camouflage in the winter habitat.
- Feather wear from breeding activities necessitates molting new feathers.
Comparison to other gulls
The black-headed gull’s seasonal plumage change is more striking than in many other gulls. Some key comparisons:
Species | Winter Head | Other Winter Differences |
---|---|---|
Black-headed gull | White | Scaled gray back |
Herring gull | Mostly white with variable streaking | Darker gray upperparts |
Ring-billed gull | All white | Dark bar on tertials |
Conclusion
The black-headed gull undergoes a remarkable transformation between its breeding and winter plumages. Its dark hood is replaced by an all-white head. Other changes such as the scaled back and gray legs aid camouflage during the winter months. This seasonal plumage change is more pronounced than in many other gull species.
The black-headed gull’s winter plumage provides great camouflage and reduced conspicuousness during the non-breeding months. Yet it can still be identified by features such as its dark wingtips, black spot behind the eye, and relative small size compared to other common gulls.
Understanding the black-headed gull’s variable appearance through the seasons aids birdwatchers in properly identifying this widespread species. The striking breeding and non-breeding plumages of the black-headed gull reflect the evolutionary pressures of changing seasons and environments.
The black-headed gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) is a small gull that breeds across much of Europe and Asia. It is migratory, wintering south to Africa, the Middle East, and the Indian Subcontinent. It is a regular sight along coasts, lakes, rivers and wetlands.
The adult black-headed gull in breeding plumage has a chocolate brown head, white body and gray back and wings. In winter, the hood is lost and the head becomes white. Immature birds have black markings on the wings and back.
The black-headed gull feeds on insects, fish, worms, scraps and offal. It will also steal food from other birds and is known to occasionally take eggs and chicks of other bird species.
Black-headed gulls build floating nests in densely packed colonies, often on islands. The nest is made of vegetation and the female lays 2-3 eggs. Both parents incubate the eggs and feed the young chicks.
The global population is estimated between 2.2 and 3.2 million pairs. The species is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List, as populations appear to be stable.
The black-headed gull’s scientific name is Chroicocephalus ridibundus, with Chroicocephalus meaning “color-headed” and ridibundus meaning “laughing” in Latin. This refers to its brown summer hood and its loud, laughing call.
The black-headed gull has an intriguing and variable appearance through the seasons. Birdwatchers value being able to identify it correctly in breeding and non-breeding plumage. This highlights how the gull’s plumage adapts to provide camouflage, signaling for mating, and dealing with feather wear throughout the year.
The black-headed gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) is a small gull that breeds across much of Europe and Asia. It is migratory, wintering south to Africa, the Middle East, and the Indian Subcontinent. It is a regular sight along coasts, lakes, rivers and wetlands.
Some key facts about the black-headed gull:
- It has a wingspan of approximately 100 cm.
- It has red legs and bill in summer which fade to gray in winter.
- Adults weigh 190-330g.
- Its distinctive chocolate brown hood is lost in winter when the head turns all white.
- Juveniles have black banding on their wings and back.
- The maximum recorded age is over 32 years.
- Nests are built on the ground near water, with 2-3 eggs laid.
- It feeds on fish, insects, earthworms, scraps and carrion.
- The global population is estimated at 2.2-3.2 million breeding pairs.
- IUCN Red List status: Least Concern.
The black-headed gull has a cosmopolitan range across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. It is found across the following regions:
Europe
Breeds across most of Europe, from Iceland and the UK in the west to Russia in the east. Its range extends as far north as northern Norway and Sweden.
Asia
Breeds widely across central Asia, including Kazakhstan, Mongolia and China. Also breeds in parts of the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia.
Africa
Present year-round along the coasts of North Africa, down to South Africa. Also found around inland wetlands.
Middle East
Breeds locally in parts of Turkey, Israel, Iraq and Iran. Winter visitor throughout much of the region.
Global
Vagrant records from across the world including Japan, Atlantic Canada and Hawaii, but not established outside natural range.
The black-headed gull occupies a wide range of coastal and inland wetland habitats. Key areas include:
- Coastlines – Beaches, estuaries, harbors.
- Lakes – Freshwater and saltwater lakes.
- Rivers – Slow-flowing rivers and deltas.
- Marshes – Freshwater and brackish marshes.
- Farmland – Fields, pastures and agricultural wetlands.
- Urban – Landfills, parks, flooded fields.
It generally avoids fast-flowing rocky rivers and mountainous areas. In winter, it is also found further offshore and around coastal towns.
The black-headed gull has experienced a varied population trend across its wide range:
- In Europe, numbers increased through most of the 20th century. They have declined in recent decades but remain common.
- In Asia, populations are generally stable or fluctuating.
- In Africa, trends vary by region with declines in South Africa but increases in East Africa.
Overall the global population is estimated at 2.2-3.2 million pairs, placing it in the category of Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
The black-headed gull has an intriguing and variable appearance through the seasons. Here is a more detailed look at its changing plumage and molt cycle:
Breeding Plumage
- Head: Chocolate brown hood.
- Body: White below, pale gray back.
- Wings: Black wingtips with white speckling during courtship.
- Bill and legs: Red.
Non-breeding Plumage
- Head: Entirely white.
- Body: As breeding plumage but back more heavily streaked gray.
- Wings: Black wingtips but less black than breeding season.
- Bill and legs: Gray.
Molt Sequence
The black-headed gull has one complete molt per year. Key stages include:
- Late summer – molt head and body feathers.
- October to March – molt wing and tail feathers.
- April to May – molt back into breeding plumage.
The timing of the molt leads to the striking differences between its breeding and winter appearances throughout the year.
The black-headed gull is well adapted to exploit a variety of food sources. Its diet includes:
- Insects – flies, beetles, dragonflies
- Fish – caught directly or scavenged
- Worms – ragworms, earthworms
- Crustaceans – shrimp, crabs
- Mollusks – mussels, snails
- Seeds and berries
- Carrion from dead animals
- Bird eggs and chicks
- Human food waste from landfills and fishing harbors
It prefers small fish less than 10 cm long. It also adapts readily to take advantage of garbage dumps, sewer outflows and littering to scavenge scraps.
The black-headed gull employs various feeding techniques including:
- Plunging to catch insects and fish near the water surface
- Wading in shallows to grab mollusks and worms
- Surface dipping to pick up scraps and floating items
- Scavenging dead fish washed up on shore
- Foraging on land for earthworms and insects
- Predating eggs and chicks at seabird colonies
Its varied diet and flexibility reflects its ability to thrive around humans across a wide range of habitats.
The black-headed gull breeds in colonies from April to June across temperate areas of Europe and Asia. Key facts about its breeding ecology include:
- Nests are built on the ground near water, made of vegetation and flotsam.
- Colonies can range from a few dozen to many thousands of pairs.
- Nests are densely packed up to 4-5 per square meter.
- Females lay 2-3 eggs, olive brown with black blotches.
- Incubation lasts around 3 weeks, done mainly by the female.
- Chicks fledge at 4-5 weeks old and are fed by both parents.
- Birds first breed from 3-4 years old.
Both mate choice and competition for nest sites and resources are important to breeding success. Older birds and earlier nesters tend to have greater success.
The black-headed gull makes several characteristic vocalizations including:
Laughing Call
A raucous squealing “ha-ha-ha” call, giving rise to the species’ Latin name ridibundus meaning “laughing”. Used in various social interactions.
Mewing Call
A soft “mewing” sound made during courtship and feeding. Similar to the common gull.
Display Calls
Calls used in aggressive encounters include deep barking and trumpeting notes.
Chick Calls
High-pitched piping calls made by chicks begging for food.
These calls are useful identifiers for birdwatchers to detect and recognize black-headed gulls.
Some key threats and conservation issues facing the black-headed gull include:
- Habitat loss – Wetland drainage reduces breeding and foraging areas.
- Disturbance – Nesting colonies can be disturbed by human recreation and development.
- Pollution – Vulnerable to oil spills, marine plastics and water pollution.
- Culling – Sometimes controlled at airports due to bird strike risk.
- Climate change – Sea level rise affects coastal habitats.
- Predators – Nest and chick predators include crows, foxes, rats.
However, the species remains common and widely distributed across its range. Flexible feeding habits allow it to adapt to human-altered environments. Key conservation priorities include:
- Protecting important breeding colonies.
- Safeguarding wetland feeding habitat.
- Managing disturbance at sensitive nesting sites.
- Monitoring and controlling predators.
- Reducing marine pollution.
Integrated conservation planning across the species’ range is needed to ensure the long-term survival of black-headed gull populations.
Conclusion
The black-headed gull is a fascinating species that undergoes a striking change in plumage between seasons. In summer, it sports a rich chocolate brown hood but this is lost in winter when the head turns completely white. Other seasonal changes aid camouflage and reduce wear.
This small gull has adapted well to man-made environments and exploits a broad diet. It breeds in densely packed colonies across temperate regions of Europe and Asia. Careful conservation is needed to protect wetland habitats and reduce disturbance.
Birdwatchers enjoy identifying the black-headed gull in its breeding finery or winter plainness. Its varied plumage and habits reflect a highly adaptable species molded by seasonal shifts in climate and habitat.