The Black-headed Gull is such a charming bird, easily recognisable and commonly found throughout Europe. Don't let their name fool you, as they're not just seabirds--they nest in all kinds of wetlands, from inland spots like gravel pits to coastal marshes. In the winter months, you might be lucky enough to spot them practically anywhere, and they're known to be quite cheeky, even snatching food from birdtables!
Black-headed Gulls have a sleek appearance, with a softly rounded head, slender bill, and sharply pointed wings. The adults and young birds have different looks in summer and winter. When Black-headed Gulls fly, their wings beat with a playful bounce, and they're skilled at gliding, soaring, and even diving from great heights to catch insects.
Aren't first-summer Black-headed Gulls just the cutest? During the months of February to April, they shed their first-winter plumage and start to look like a mix of adult and immature features. The adorable brownish hood on their head is speckled with white, while their wings still bear some signs of their juvenile plumage. Plus, their bill has a dark tip and orangey base, and their legs are a lovely shade of orange. Don't they sound charming?
Birdwatching enthusiasts will find it a breeze to spot the Black-headed Gull, easily identified by its striking plumage. Come February or March, you can see the chocolate-brown hood with a thin white eyering on their head, along with white feathers on their hindneck. The silvery-grey mantle and wings may appear quite pale in certain lighting, while the flight feathers boast bold black tips. Their rump, slightly rounded tail, and entire underparts are white, and their bill, legs, and feet are a lovely reddish shade. To top it off, their eyes are a striking black color.
Notice how easily you can spot the brown on the wings of a first-winter Blackhead when it's in flight. The contrast with the grey mantle and inner wing makes it even more visible. Take note of the broad blackish trailing edge on the upperwing, as well as the clear black tail band.
"On both plumages, you can see a striking pattern on the upper and under wings. Take a closer look at the upper-wing and you'll notice a bold white leading edge that perfectly complements the black trailing edge of the outer wing feathers or primary feathers. Meanwhile, the underwing displays a lovely silvery-grey hue, with a large dusky panel towards the wing's end. Even on mature birds, the white leading edge and black trailing edge remain easily visible.”
Young Black-headed Gulls in their first winter have a similar appearance to adult winter birds, but with slightly more mottling on their head. Their wings have a considerable amount of brown on the coverts, secondaries and tertials, while their tails feature a wide, black terminal band. Their bill sports a muddy-orange base and black tip, and their legs have the same muddy-orange tint. The eye is black.
A fully grown Black-headed Gull in the winter season looks exactly the same as in the summer season except for the head pattern. During winters, they have a white head with a slightly blurry dark spot behind the eye. They also have two dark bands that run across the crown. The base of their bill becomes darker and duller, with the tip potentially appearing blackish. Their leg color becomes a dull orangey-red shade.
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