nonbreeding plumage; black dot behind eye (Northern Ireland; 2008-09-17)


Common Black-headed Gull
Larus ridibundus

Native Range: Eurasia

Notes: true to its name, generally the most common small gull of Europe; the black head of both sexes is present only during the breeding season; found in freshwater as well as saltwater environs, and in both farmland and urban settings.


nonbreeder in flight; grey mantle, white tail (Northern Ireland; 2008-09-17)

nonbreeder swimming; red bill with black tip (Northern Ireland; 2008-09-17)

frontal view of nonbreeder; red legs (Northern Ireland; 2008-09-17)

white underparts, most of head, and tail (Northern Ireland; 2008-09-17)

nonbreeder standing on one leg (Northern Ireland; 2008-09-17)

white-and-black wingtips (Northern Ireland; 2008-09-17)

breeding plumage; black head; red bill (Norway; 2009-05-27)

breeder in flight (Norway; 2009-05-27)

black-and white wingtips; otherwise quite whitish (Norway; 2009-05-27)

breeder swimming; note the partial white eye-ring (Norway; 2009-05-27)

nonbreeder flying left (Luxembourg; 2007-10-21)

nonbreeder flying right (Luxembourg; 2007-10-21)

nonbreeding flock in flight (Northern Ireland; 2008-09-21)

breeding bird in flight (Poland ; 2012-06-03)

breeding bird in flight; white patch near wingtip (Poland ; 2012-06-03)

egg in nest on a reed platform in a marsh (Poland ; 2012-06-03)

small flock of breeding birds (Poland ; 2012-06-03)