is it a BHG

[faz]

I was asked to id this gull the person asking thinks it’s a black headed gull if it is why as it got a black head.? The photo was taken 21/12/11 in Hampshire in the morning.

[Dogghound]

Yes black headed gull.

They can attain their dark feathering quite early.

[faz]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

Yes black headed gull.

They can attain their dark feathering quite early.

It dose not look like a first year bird assuming its adult so why the black head now. I have been looking through my books all day can’t find the answer.
Been looking at all sorts of dark headed gulls on the web to no avail.

[faz]

Originally Posted by faz

It dose not look like a first year bird assuming its adult so why the black head now. I have been looking through my books all day can’t find the answer.
Been looking at all sorts of dark headed gulls on the web to no avail.

dohhhh you mean as in time of year

[Adam Cheeseman]

It's an adult Black-headed Gull that is starting to attain its summer plumage. I have seen several recently with varying amounts of hood development. It is not uncommon at all to see this at this time of year.

Cheers,

Adam

[faz]

thanks adam

[Dogghound]

Sorry yes, this is in adult plumage so is at least 1 full year old, probably older i.e. 3rd winter plus.

To be fair this one is perhaps a little early than the norm, as they usually get the hood from Januray onwards with some birds still not having a full one into late April. The bulk get a hood between Jan and April, however its not particularly rare to find ones with hoods in December.

[faz]

thanks dan and here is me thinking it was a rare bird and its a BHG

[Dogghound]

Similar gulls with dark hoods like sabines, mediterranean, bonaparte's etc show other features which are more diagnostic than the time the hood develops. Hood development time is broadly similar between these gulls.

[aeshna5]

Amongst the thousands of Black-headed Gulls I've seen over the last week, 2 have had full dark heads.