Black-headed Gull Identification

Black-headed Gull Breeding adult
Breeding adult

Large Eurasian gull with a somewhat thin bill. Breeding adults have a dark brown partial hood and white eye arcs.

© Paul Tavares | Macaulay LibrarySuðurland, July 06, 2011
Black-headed Gull Nonbreeding adult
Nonbreeding adult

Nonbreeding adults have dark smudging above and behind the eye and a dusky-tipped red bill.

© Shawn Billerman | Macaulay LibraryNew York, December 30, 2016
Black-headed Gull Immature
Immature

Bulky gull of the Old World. Immatures have two smudgy spots on the head, one above the eye and one behind the eye. Note somewhat thin dusky-tipped red bill.

© Bruce Kerr | Macaulay LibraryScotland, November 03, 2013
Black-headed Gull Breeding adult
Breeding adult

Breeding adults in flight have a white leading edge that contrasts with dark primaries.

© Ian Davies | Macaulay LibraryNorrbottens län [SE-25], June 19, 2015
Black-headed Gull Immature
Immature

Large and somewhat bulky gull. Immatures have dark-tipped primary feathers and two smudgy spots on the head, one above the eye and one behind the eye. Note white on the leading edge of the wing.

© Patrick J. Blake | Macaulay Libraryİstanbul, December 25, 2015
Black-headed Gull Juvenile
Juvenile

Juveniles are mottled brown, gray, and white. Note dark tail tip, pale bill, and white leading edge on the wing.

© Jim Sweeney | Macaulay LibraryNorðurland eystra, July 09, 2014
Black-headed Gull Nonbreeding adult
Nonbreeding adult

Rare visitor to North America. In flight, note white leading edge of the wing that contrasts with the dark primaries.

© Aidan Rominger | Macaulay LibraryOhio, January 09, 2016
Black-headed Gull Breeding adult
Breeding adult

A Eurasian gull that breeds along lakes, rivers, bogs, moors, grasslands, swamps, and coastal marshes.

© Steve Kelling | Macaulay LibraryNidwalden, March 10, 2016
Black-headed Gull Flock
Flock

In winter, found primarily along seacoasts, estuaries, and bays often in flocks.

© Josip Turkalj | Macaulay LibraryGrad Zagreb, December 18, 2016
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Adult Description

  • Small gull.
  • White triangle in outer part of wing.
  • Blackish under tip of wing.
  • Back pale gray.
  • Underparts white.
  • Head dark brown during breeding.
  • Dark spot behind eyes in winter.

Immature Description

Juvenile with much brown on head, neck, and back, a dark bar across the wing, and a black tail tip. Immature similar to nonbreeding adult, but with brownish black bar across the base of the wing, much black in the outer wing, and a black band across the tip of the tail. In first breeding plumage the black head is partly mottled with white.
Relative Size

Relative Sizebetween crow and goosebetween crow and goose
Measurements
  • Both Sexes
    • Length: 13.4-14.6 in (34-37 cm)
    • Weight: 6.7-14.1 oz (190-400 g)
    • Wingspan: 39.4-43.3 in (100-110 cm)