Black-headed Gull- Kokmeeuw (L. ridibundus)

(last update: 18-3-2007)

Black-headed Gull is a small gull, common and widespread in Europe and Asia all the way to the east through the Russian steppe-belt into Kamtchatka. It winters south along the west coast of Africa, the Mediterranean and the east coast of Africa, the Arabian peninsular, India, Malaysia and the Philippines. A key characteristic is the extensive white patch in the outer primaries. Black-headed Gull reaches the adult plumage in second winter: 3cy (third calendar year) birds are hardly distinguishable from adults. Most of the description below follows from P.J. Grant: “Gulls, a guide to identification”.

Juveniles typically show a buff-brown wash on the crown and ear-coverts, while throat and hind neck are white. The buff extends on the sides of the breast and on the mantle and scapulars, where the feathers become more ginger-toned and show white fringes. The tertials are brown, as are the median coverts and lower lesser coverts. The greater coverts and upper lesser coverts are grey. The white tail shows a clear black tail-band.

The partial autumn moult (post-juvenile moult into so-called "first winter") starts right from the moment the nests are abandoned and is normally completed by September. This partial moult includes the head and under-parts and often some median and lower lesser coverts are moulted to second generation feathers as well. Most of the buff-brown colour is replaced: the head becomes whiter with only a dark patch on the ear-coverts and around the eye, extending over the crown. The mantle and scapulars are moulted to second generation feathers which in turn are all grey. If median and lower lesser coverts are involved, they are replaced by all-grey feathers as well, similar to the juvenile outer greater coverts. The tertials are normally excluded and remain brown. Observation of 1cy birds in December reveal that a substantial number of birds are still in active moult, replacing the wing-coverts and lower scapulars. Therefore, it seems to be likely that the partial autumn moult in 1cy birds may continue into the next spring moult in 2cy. Exact data are not presented here, but in several images of 1cy December birds on this page, this extensive partial moult can be seen (e.g. here and here).

During the wintering months, from October to January, moult is normally suspended or may continue at a very low pace.

Next moult takes place in early spring (from February to April into so-called "first summer") and includes again the body and head, hence a partial moult again. By now, the hood is more or less developed, although often with white flecking. A few individuals may include the central tail-feathers in this partial moult.

The complete moult in 2cy birds takes place from June into October, and starts with the inner primaries. The second generation inner primaries are dark from below with small greyish tips from P1 to P6 best visible from above. From P3 outwards (sometimes from P5 outwards) the second generation primaries show much white, except on the outer-web of P10. The under-wing coverts are pale grey, the tail is moulted to all-white feathers and the bill and legs turn darker red. In general, birds resemble adult birds in many respects once this moult is completed. Only a few individuals can be recognised as 2cy (second calendar year) birds in October by the primary coverts, which may still show some dark markings. Otherwise, most 2cy Black-headed Gulls from October are indistinguishable from adults.

Next moult starts in December and goes on into April. When this moult is completed, birds show the "adult summer" plumage. It’s a partial moult including the body and head: the head becomes typically brown with obvious eye-crescents. Some birds develop a pinkish wash on the breast, a phenomenon maybe related to diet.

Measurements in mm’s wing: 280-315, tail: 104-124, bill: 30-37, tarsus: 42-47; n = 12.

Ringed Black-headed Gulls in the first week of January 2002 at Le Portel and Etaples (NW France):
Helsinki ST 167.479. This bird was ringed as pullus at the nest, June 28 1995, Korsnäs, Finland (62.55N,21.03E).
Black 5RU. This bird was ringed at the same spot as an adult on January 03 2002 (same day as the day of recovery).
Black 6RW. This bird was ringed as an adult on January 03 2002.
Black 5RV. This bird was ringed as an adult on January 03 2002 (day before the recovery).
Black R023. This bird was ringed as 2cy in 1995 and was reported since for more than 20 times at the same spot. 
Green CC66. It had also a metal ring number ST-172.055 and was ringed as full-grown adult, hatched before 1993. Ringing date: 30.4.1995 at Rautalampi, Finland (62.43N,26.45E).

1cy Black-headed Gull in July. (72795 bytes)Black-headed Gull L. ridibundus 1cy, July 12 2003, Tampere, Finland (61.31N 23.43E).
1cy Black-headed Gull in July. (85237 bytes)Black-headed Gull L. ridibundus 1cy, July 15 2003, Tampere, Finland (61.31N 23.43E).
1cy Black-headed Gull in July. (85237 bytes)Black-headed Gull L. ridibundus ST 247931 1cy, December 17 2006, Amsterdam, the Netherlands (52.22N,04.51E).
1cy Black-headed Gull in July. (85237 bytes)Black-headed Gull L. ridibundus EH74 1cy, December 17 2006, Amsterdam, the Netherlands (52.22N,04.51E).
1cy Black-headed Gull in July. (85237 bytes)Black-headed Gull L. ridibundus Minsk FA01112 1cy, December 17 2006, Amsterdam, the Netherlands (52.22N,04.51E).
1cy Black-headed Gull December (50639 bytes)photo 7490: Black-headed Gull L. ridibundus 1cy, December 24 2002, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
1cy Black-headed Gull December (46985 bytes)photo 7514: Black-headed Gull L. ridibundus 1cy, December 24 2002, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

1cy Black-headed Gull December (59463 bytes)photo 7525: Black-headed Gull L. ridibundus 1cy, December 24 2002, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

1cy Black-headed Gull December (57101 bytes)photo 7517: Black-headed Gull L. ridibundus 1cy, December 24 2002, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

1cy Black-headed Gull December (46954 bytes)photo 7536: Black-headed Gull L. ridibundus 1cy, December 24 2002, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
1cy Black-headed Gull December (69158 bytes)photo 7512: Black-headed Gull L. ridibundus 1cy, December 24 2002, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
2cy Black-headed Gull (71930 bytes)photo 8708: Black-headed Gull L. ridibundus 2cy, January 04 2002, Boulogne/Mer, France (50.42N,1.34E).
2cy Black-headed Gull in February. (40662 bytes)photo 8060: Black-headed Gull L. ridibundus 2cy, February 06 2003, Boulogne/Mer, France (50.42N,1.34E).
1cy Black-headed Gull in July. (85237 bytes)Black-headed Gull L. ridibundus LNZ 2cy, February 08 2006, Amsterdam, the Netherlands (52.21N,04.55E).
1cy Black-headed Gull in July. (85237 bytes)Black-headed Gull L. ridibundus LTE 2cy, February 08 2006, Amsterdam, the Netherlands (52.21N,04.55E).
2cy Black-headed Gull -ringed in Slovakia - in February. (55575 bytes)Black-headed Gull H 2547 L. ridibundus 2cy, February 08 2003, Boulogne/Mer, France (50.42N,1.34E).
adult Black-headed Gull black 5RU  (76302 bytes)Black-headed Gull 5RU L. ridibundus adult, January 04 2002, Boulogne/Mer, France (50.42N,1.34E).
adult Black-headed Gull in February, ringed in Sweden. (74177 bytes)photo 7713: Black-headed Gull L. ridibundus adult SWS 6143424, January 23 2003, IJmuiden, the Netherlands (52.27N 04.33E).
adult Black-headed Gull -ringed in Finland - in February. (45109 bytes)Black-headed Gull ST 167.479 L. ridibundus adult, February 06 2003, Boulogne/Mer, France (50.42N,1.34E).
1cy Black-headed Gull in July. (85237 bytes)Black-headed Gull L. ridibundus 6.6 adult, February 08 2006, Amsterdam, the Netherlands (52.21N,04.55E).
adult Black-headed Gull in February, ringed in Sweden. (59287 bytes)photo 1832: Black-headed Gull L. ridibundus adult SWS 6405929, February 28 2004, IJmuiden, the Netherlands (52.27N 04.33E).
adult Black-headed Gull. (44941 bytes)Black-headed Gull L. ridibundus adult, March 16 2003, Boulogne/Mer, France (50.42N 1.34E).
adult Black-headed Gull. (51568 bytes)Black-headed Gull L. ridibundus adult, March 16 2003, Boulogne/Mer, France (50.42N 1.34E).
Black-headed Gull adult July, blue UU. (80922 bytes)Black-headed Gull L. ridibundus adult U.U, July 11 2003, Tampere, Finland (61.31N,23.43E).
Black-headed Gull adult in July. (95331 bytes) Black-headed Gull L. ridibundus adult, July 14 2003, Tampere, Finland (61.31N,23.43E).
Black-headed Gull adult in July. (95331 bytes) Black-headed Gull L. ridibundus P75 adult, July 25 2003, KØBENHAVN (55.43N-012.36E). Picture Kjeld Tommy Pedersen.
1cy Black-headed Gull in July. (85237 bytes)Black-headed Gull L. ridibundus Moskwa DB023821 20cy, December 17 2006, Amsterdam, the Netherlands (52.22N,04.51E).
1cy Black-headed Gull in July. (85237 bytes)Black-headed Gull L. ridibundus 3.651.552 adult, December 17 2006, Amsterdam, the Netherlands (52.22N,04.51E).
1cy Black-headed Gull in July. (85237 bytes)Black-headed Gull L. ridibundus ST-254576 adult, December 17 2006, Amsterdam, the Netherlands (52.22N,04.51E).
Black-headed Gull adult December white LAC (50891 bytes)Black-headed Gull L. ridibundus adult LAC, December 24 2002, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Black-headed Gull adult December blue YF (65939 bytes)Black-headed Gull L. ridibundus adult Y.F, December 24 2002, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.