Bird Focus of the Week: Black-headed Gull

Chroicocephalus ridibundus

Black-headed Gull by Tania Malréchauffé

For many birdwatchers in the UK, the Black-headed Gull is one of the most familiar and widespread gulls. Despite the misleading name, this species is not black headed for most of the year. Instead, its head is white with a faint dark spot behind the eyes, a feature it retains during the non-breeding season. Only in the breeding months of late spring and summer does it develop the chocolate-brown hood that gives it its name.

Black-headed Gulls are widespread throughout the UK, often seen in large numbers around coastal areas, reservoirs, lakes, and even urban parks. They are highly adaptable, thriving in both inland and coastal environments. In coastal regions, they are often seen foraging along mudflats and beaches, while inland, they frequent lakes and wetlands. Interestingly, they’ve also become regulars in city parks, scavenging for food scraps or snatching bits of bread tossed by passers-by.

Breeding season begins in early spring, when the distinctive dark hood appears, signalling the start of their courtship displays. Black-headed Gulls typically nest in colonies, often in islands or marshes. They’re ground nesters, making shallow scrapes lined with vegetation, where the female will lay 2-3 eggs. After about 23-26 days of incubation, the eggs hatch, and both parents share the duties of feeding the young. The chicks fledge around five weeks later, usually by July. By autumn, the colonies disperse, and many Black-headed Gulls return to a more solitary or small-group existence.

Black-headed Gull pair by Julian

The Black-headed Gull is an opportunistic feeder. While in coastal areas, it primarily feeds on small fish, crustaceans, and insects, it will also consume earthworms, seeds, and even refuse in urban environments. These gulls are known for their versatility, which is why they thrive in such a variety of habitats. You'll often see them following the plough in agricultural fields, snatching up invertebrates stirred up from the soil.

In towns and cities, their behaviour has adapted to human presence, and they’re not shy about scavenging. You probably will be familiar with their boldness around picnickers and food markets, as they’ve become adept at seizing opportunities for an easy meal. With an estimated UK breeding population of over 140,000 pairs, the species remains listed as "Least Concern" by the IUCN, and its adaptability has allowed it to maintain strong numbers across Britain and Europe.

One of the best places to observe their breeding colonies is at Belmont Reservoir, Lancashire, which harbours one of the largest colonies in Britain; around 8% of the UK’s population is there.

The Black-headed Gull may not have the grandeur of some of the UK’s more iconic birds, but its charisma makes it a fascinating species to observe year-round. Whether scavenging in city parks or breeding in inland reservoirs, this gull is a classic part of the British birdscape.