Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus)

 

 

The Black-headed Gull is one of the most common gulls in Europe, in parts even endemic. This gull is not shy and follows into urban areas where it is, by now, also a very common apperance. 

 

The Black-headed Gull is a medium sized gull at 34-43 cm length and a wingspan of c. 94-110 cm. Most prominent features of the adult summer moult are the dark head pattern, the red/brown-red pointed bull and the rather longish red-brown legs.

 

This article provides in-depth insight into breeding, distribution and threats on the Black-headed Gull.

 

 

Description - Characteristics: Black-headed Gull

 

Breeding – Clutch – Measurements – Habitat – Diet - Threats

 

Taxonomy:

Order: Charadriiformes

Family: Laridae

Genus: Larus

Species: Black-headed Gull

 

Scientific Name: Larus ridibundus

 

Names and Synonyms of the Black-headed Gull

 

Name in German: Lachmöwe

Name in Czech: Racek chechtavý

Name in Slovak: Čajka smejivá

Name in Hungarian: Dankasirály

Name in Croat: Riječni Galeb

Name in French: Mouette rieuse

Name in Spanish: Gaviota Reidora

Name in Portuguese: Guincho-comum

Name in Dutch: Kokmeeuw

Name in Italian: Gabbiano comune

Name in Iceland: Hettumáfur

Name in Greenland: Nasalik

Name in Faroer: Fiskimási, Fiskimási

Name in Finnish: Naurulokki

Name in Danish: Hættemåge

Name in Swedish: Skrattmås

Name in Polish: Śmieszka

Name in Russian: Озёрная чайка

Name in Hebrew: שחף אגמים

Name in Arabic: النورس أسود الرأس, النورس أسود الرأس الجنة, نورس اسود الرأس

Name in Greek: Καστανοκέφαλος Γλάρος, Χωραφόγλαρος

Name in Turkey: Karabağ martı, Karabaş Martı, karabaş marty

Name in Kazahk: Кєл шағаласы

Name in Mongol: Хүрэн толгойт цахлай, Хүрэнтолгойт цахлай

Name in Japanese: Miyako-dori, yuri kamome, yurikamome, Yuri-kamome

Name in Korean: 붉은부리갈매기

 

Characteristics of the Black-headed Gull

 

 

Field Characteristics: Two-age groups. White leading edge to outer wing, when flying; also obvious blackish area bordering white leading edge of underwing, pointed wings. Upright posture when standing. Head pattern: dark brown hood in summer, in winter bold dark ear-spot. Longer neck and shorter tail. Red or brown-red legs and bill.

 

Bill: red or brown-red with dark tip.

Legs: red or brown-red.

 

Iris: dark.

 

Measurements

 

Size: 34-43 cm

Weight:

♂: 195-300 g

♀: 250-400 g

Wingspan: 94-110 cm

♂: 28.2-32.3 cm

♀: 22.9-27.2 cm

 

 

Voice: Very noisy in colony and when feeding in flock. Utters sound like a shrill “kreareearr”.

 

Breeding

 

Maturity: first breeding in third year.

Mating Season: monogamous breeding pair.

 

Clutches per breeding season1 clutch

Breeding: nest building begins c. 25 days before laying. In central Europa laying starts from early April at the earliest, mainly mid-April to end-April.

 

Nest: nest on dry platform, even on swimming platform in water, mainly in dry vegetation and on naked earth; nest made form large sticks, and green leaves. ♂ begins building nest, on which building continuous until end of breeding season.

 

 

Miscellaneous

 

Food: large variety: mainly omnivorous but also vegetarian, depending on food abundance; earth worms, insects such as beetles, bugs, larvae of click beetles (Elateridae), craneflies etc., flying insects, small fish, polychaetes, crustaceans, rubbish, carrion from small animals. Follows ships on sea in search of rubbish.

 

Longevity: The oldes known ringed bird of a Black-headed Gull reached an age of >32 years, also >30, 28 and 26 years.

 

Mortality: Mortality of c. 38% during first year, later mortality of c. 23% per annum.

 

Threats: Loss of habitat through ground melioration, conversion of grasslands into arable land, raising of water levels in swamps, siltation, destruction of siltation zones. Direct persecution. Heavy metals and biocides. Hunting, collection of eggs, poisoning. Loss of food in large areas, especially during breeding season. Predators such as large gulls, rats, foxes. Disturbances at colonies.

 

 

 

References

 

Bauer, Hans-Günther, Bezzel, Einhard et. al. (HG), Kompendium der Vögel Mitteleuropas, Band 1+2, Sonderausgabe 2012, Aula Verlag, Wiebelsheim

Bauer, Hans-Günther, Bezzel, Einhard et. al. (HG), Kompendium der Vögel Mitteleuropas, Band 3, Literatur und Anhang, Aula Verlag Wiebelsheim, 2. vollständig überarbeitete Auflage 1993

Bezzel, Einhard, Kompendium der Vögel Mitteleuropas, Non-Passeriformes, Band 1, AULA-Verlag Wiesbaden, 1985

Bruun/Singer/König/Der Kosmos Vogelführer, Franck'sche Verlagshandlung Stuttgart, 5. Auflage 1982

Glutz von Blotzheim, Urs et. al (HG), Handbuch der Vögel Mitteleuropas, Band 8/1, Charadriiformes (3. Teil), Akademische Verlagsgesellschaft Wiesbaden, 1982

Svenson, Lars et. al, Der Kosmos Vogelführer, Franck-Kosmos Verlag GmbH & Co. KG, Stuttgart, 2. Auflage 2011

 

 

Image Credits

 

Egg of Black-headed Gull - Source: by Algirdas, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1460012