Black-headed Gull (species: Chroicocephalus ridibundus) in French Guiana Birds (Gaia Guide)
French Guiana Birds > Animalia > Bilateria > Deuterostomia > Chordata > Vertebrata > Gnathostomata > Tetrapoda > Aves > Charadriiformes > Laridae > Larinae > Chroicocephalus > Chroicocephalus ridibundus (gallery)
Chroicocephalus ridibundus
Black-headed Gull


©Lubomír Hubička: Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)

©Chris Moody: Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)

©Dani Kauf: Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) winter plumage

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Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Aves
Order Charadriiformes
Family Laridae
Genus Chroicocephalus
Species Chroicocephalus ridibundus
Status least concern

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Colours

              

Distinguishing features

In flight, the white leading edge to the wing is a good field mark. The summer adult has a chocolate-brown head (not black, although does look black from a distance), pale grey body, black tips to the primary wing feathers, and red bill and legs. The hood is lost in winter, leaving just 2 dark spots.

First-year birds have a black terminal tail band, more dark areas in the wings, and, in summer, a less fully developed dark hood. (Wikipedia)

Size

  • Up to 44 cm (Length of specimen)

Wingspan

  • Up to 105 cm

Synonyms

Distribution


©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution: Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)

Local abundance

  • Australia: vagrant

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