The black-headed gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) is a small gull that breeds in much of Europe and Asia. Its name comes from the black head of the adult breeding plumage. The black-headed gull makes a variety of different vocalizations, the most common being a loud “kree-ar” or “kee-ow” call.
Description of the Black-Headed Gull
The black-headed gull is a medium-sized gull, measuring 38-44 cm (15-17 inches) long with a wingspan of 94-105 cm (37-41 inches). Adult birds in breeding plumage have a black head, white body, gray back and wings, and red bill and legs. In winter, the black head is mostly lost, replaced by streaks of gray and brown. Immature birds also lack the black head, having a mottled gray-brown appearance instead.
This species breeds in colonies near lakes, rivers, and coastal marshes across Europe and Asia. The nest is a mound of vegetation built on the ground near water. Both parents incubate the 3 eggs for around 3 weeks. Chicks fledge in 4-5 weeks. Outside of the breeding season, black-headed gulls gather in large flocks, often mixing with other gull species.
The black-headed gull feeds on a variety of prey, including insects, earthworms, fish, mollusks, crustaceans, and more. It often forages in flight or picks food items from the surface of water or the ground. This is an opportunistic species that has adapted well to human activity, often taking food scraps in cities and dumps.
Typical Vocalizations
The black-headed gull has a repertoire of vocalizations it uses to communicate different messages. Here are some of the most common black-headed gull calls and what they mean:
Keow or Kree-ar Call
The most typical vocalization of the black-headed gull is a loud, ringing “keow” or “kree-ar.” This is often written as “kyow” or “kreea.” This call is used in a variety of contexts and serves different functions:
- Territorial call – To claim nesting territory and warn off intruders
- Contact call – Keeps members of a pair or colony in touch vocally
- Alarm call – Signals danger or threats
- Begging call – Young birds beg for food from parents
- Flight call – Used when in flight
The keow/kree-ar call is often repeated multiple times in succession when used territorially. It is very noisy and distinctive, and forms a background cacophony in gull colonies during nesting season.
Long Call
The long call, written as “kyow-owk” or “kow-OWK”, is a slower, more drawn-out version of the keow call. It is lower-pitched and almost mournful sounding. This call functions as an alarm signal and threat call between competing birds.
Barking Call
A short, raspy “bowk” vocalization functions as an aggressive or agitation call towards other gulls. It sounds similar to a small dog barking. Adult black-headed gulls give this call when competing for food or defending nests and chicks.
Whining Call
A high-pitched “meeh” or whining “meow” call is given frequently by chicks begging their parents for food. It is a harsh, grating sound, but softer than the adult calls. Parents learn to recognize their own chicks by voice.
Laughing Call
Black-headed gulls sometimes give a strange laughing or chuckling call during social interactions with other gulls. It is thought this helps maintain bonds between paired birds or colony members. It sounds like a chattering “ke-ke-ke.”
Differences Between Juvenile and Adult Vocalizations
There are some differences between the calls of adult black-headed gulls and newly fledged juveniles:
- Juvenile food begging calls are higher-pitched and more drawn out
- Juvenile contact and flight calls are weaker sounding
- Juveniles do not give full territorial or alarm calls until they mature more
- Juvenile calls can sound scratchier and less clear than adult vocalizations
Over time, as they grow and develop, juvenile black-headed gulls gain the full repertoire of vocalizations used by adult birds. Their calls deepen and strengthen with age.
Variation in Calls
The black-headed gull’s calls have some geographic variations across their wide range. However, the core sounds remain largely the same. Some differences include:
- More northern European populations have slightly higher pitched calls
- Birds in Asia have calls that are huskier in tone
- American subspecies have a faster keow call cadence
- Southern populations have calls that are more melodious in nature
Their calls can also vary in tone based on the meaning the gull intends to convey. For example, a territorial call is louder and more aggressive than a contact call between mates.
When Do Black-Headed Gulls Vocalize?
Black-headed gulls vocalize year-round, but are most vocal during the breeding season when they are nesting in colonies. Key times you are most likely to hear gull calls include:
- Pair members vocally establishing a territory
- Rainy or cold weather when birds are hungry and stressed
- Early morning and late evening when colony is most active
- Aggressive encounters between competing gulls
- Feeding young – the chicks beg and parents respond
- Predators in the area spur alarm calls
Outside of nesting season when the birds are not territorial, vocalizations are less frequent and often limited to simple contact calls.
Mimicking Other Species
Black-headed gulls have been known on occasion to mimic the calls of other species, including:
- Terns
- Lapwings
- Curlews
- Oystercatchers
- Ducks and geese
- Raptors
It is thought they may mimic these other birds to threaten them away from nesting territories or food sources. The mimicry is not very accurate though.
Conclusion
In summary, the typical vocalizations of the black-headed gull include a loud keow or kree-ar call used in territorial displays, begging fledglings, and general communication, as well as softer contact calls, aggressive barks, whining food begging calls from chicks, and various alarm and threat notes. Variations exist geographically and with the age and context of the birds, but the overall range of sounds made by this species are quite distinctive from other gulls. The next time you are near a colony, listen for the cacophony of keow and kyow calls as the birds compete for prime nesting real estate.