Species:

Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus)

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Length (cm):
34-37
52-64
Wingspan (cm):
86-99
117-134
Weight (gram):
200-400
620-1000
Size group:
Crow-size
Bigger than a crow
Main Texts:
Appearance:

Chocolate-brown hood in adult plumage (seemingly black at a distance), but head only with dark markings in winter and juvenile plumages. Underparts of inner primaries dark grey. First few primaries white with black tip, both on upper side of wing and under. Last character conspicuous in all plumages, but slightly less obvious in juveniles due to larger dark area of wing-tip. Slender-billed Gull and Bonaparte's Gull show similar white first primaries, but differs in long and slender head profile and white underparts of hand respectively.

Sound:

Quite vocal, especially at breeding ground. Distinct, harsh calls. A rasping "kreearr", and shorter, sharp warning calls; "kek".

Contact call:

Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file


Distribution:

Xeno-canto: map

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

Featherbase

CC

Appearance:

Yellow legs, black to dark grey back (regional variations) and black primaries with only small white spots. Generally more slender than Herring Gull and Great Black-backed, with longer and more narrow wings, and longer legs. Winter plumage with streaked head and neck. Underside of flight feathers smoky grey. Juveniles very variable, but generally darker than Herring Gulls. Young birds with completely dark inner primaries and broad terminal band to tail.

Sound:

Very similar to Herring Gull, but tone more nasal.


Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file


Distribution:

Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

Featherbase

CC

Sounds:Recorded by Peter Boesman,http://www.xeno-canto.org ,CC license

Similar species (image):
Similar species (sound):
Silhouette Group:
Gull-like
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Gull-like
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Several different images of the species
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Several different sounds of the species
Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file