Wednesday, 15 February 2012
Black-headed Gull
Scientific Name:
Larus ridibundus
Length:
36 cm
Wingspan (mm):
105 cm
Lifespan:
11yrs Description
Despite the name, the Black-headed Gull spends most of the year with a white head and only shows the dark colours during summer. In fact, when its head does turn dark in summer it doesn't quite make it to the colour Black, but more a of chocolate-brown. The range of plumage depends on the time of year making it a fairly difficult bird to identify.
In summer, the adult has a chocolate brown head and in winter it only has a small black smudge to the rear of each eye. Juveniles have a ginger-brown mantle, shoulders and wing feathers and only become more like the adult in colour after about two years.
Diet
They are very adaptable and will eat a vast assortment of food, from earthworm, scraps and small fish to household and industrial waste.
Status
Amber
Did You Know?
The scientific name of the Black-headed Gull means "laughing gull," referring to its rasping "kreeay" call. It is most definitely not a 'seagull' and is found commonly almost anywhere inland. Black-headed Gulls are sociable, quarrelsome, noisy birds, usually seen in small groups or flocks, often gathering into larger parties where there is plenty of food, or when they are roosting.
Adult males care for the brood more during the day than females. Other results from studies have shown that the diet between males and females differ. Males eat what is closest by the nest and more available while females forage further away, eating more midges and other such animals. How do we know that? Females are more often traffic victims, making it easy to investigate their stomach contents. Males are more easily lured by bread and are also found more often in towns outside of breeding season. Some scientists think the difference in diet is related to the more dominant position of the males, forcing the females to eat otherwise.