Gulls!

[thebeard]

Went out today for a nice wintry walk and all the gulls that roost at attenborough were all holed up on the ice! saw a good range, but what confused me was, in amongst some black headed and a couple of meditarraneans, was one with a black head, obviously a black-headed gull- no doubt - however its winter, why did it have its summer plumage?

anyone got any ideas????

[aeshna5]

I saw one like this a few weeks back. Started it's head moult early - this is controlled by hormones which are usually influenced by daylength.

[Foz]

If the head was black its most probably a med gull, BHG have brown heads.
There do seem to be a few confused gulls around though, I have even seen a few godwits with some of thier summer feathers showing.

[Picidae]

Originally Posted by Foz

If the head was black its most probably a med gull, BHG have brown heads.
There do seem to be a few confused gulls around though, I have even seen a few godwits with some of thier summer feathers showing.

More likely to be a Black-headed Gull. Adults start partial moult into summer plumage in December, so it's not unusual to start seeing some now with moulted head feathers. Mediterranean Gulls don't commence moulting until February.

[Wild-Woman]

Med Gull at Martin Mere on Sunday with full black (perhaps a little faded) head.

[Ukwildlifeo]

I thinkthis came up last winter, and I seem to remember some males change early to get a head start on their rival males in the breeding season