North American field guide

Black-headed Gull

Chroicocephalus ridibundus

Also known as:Common Black-headed Gull

Explore this bird

Identification

Field notes

36-41 cm (14-16") Uncommon. Crow-sized Eurasian gull now breeding in Newfoundland. Inshore waters, lakes, rivers, reservoirs. Flight resembles terns. Dark brown head appears blackish, with broken white eye-ring; slender dark red bill; white underparts and tail; gray mantle, with bold white wedge on wings; conspicuous black on underside of wings; red legs.

Winter adult similar, but head white with small dark spot behind eye.

Song: harsh "kwup".

Details in the field

Photo gallery

4 photos

Credit: Sergey Yeliseev

Credit: David Merrett

Credit: Mark Kilner

Watch and learn

Videos

1 video

Potteric Carr Nature Reserve - Black-headed Gull Colony

Credit: TheBaldIbis

Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant 2 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Black-headed Gull

2 rules

Rule 1 14 criteria confidence 1

What colour were the LEGS or FEET ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Square or slightly notched at the end · Rounded at the end · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Hooked · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?: Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Gull-like, or a Seabird
WHEN was the bird seen ?: Spring · Summer · Fall
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Northeastern Canada or United States · Southeastern United States

result:542-black-headed-gull:1:1 Source: 542 Black-headed Gull, row 1

Rule 2 13 criteria confidence 1

What colour were the LEGS or FEET ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Square or slightly notched at the end · Rounded at the end · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Hooked · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?: Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Gull-like, or a Seabird
WHEN was the bird seen ?: Winter
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Northeastern Canada or United States · Southeastern United States

result:542-black-headed-gull:2:1 Source: 542 Black-headed Gull, row 2