Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus

(last update: 19-03-2014)

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Maarten van Kleinwee

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Black-headed Gull - 2cy May

This section deals with second-calendar year Black-headed Gulls in the month of May.

Introduction

In May, second-calendar year Black-headed Gulls will complete their partial moult into "first summer" plumage which has started in February (generally one month later than adults).

The plumage is characterized as follows:

  • Mantle and scapular feathers are grey (as adult), while some brown, juvenile feathers can be retained.
  • Head: dark blackish-brown hood  of variable extent. Majority (58%) have white-flecked dark hood, other variations are white head with sparse dark fleckings (24%), winter head pattern (11%) and full adult hood (7%).   
  • Body as first-winter but hind neck and breast off-white or grey-washed in birds retaining winter head pattern.
  • Bare parts: bill and legs: more orange, less flesh-coloured, prominent black tip to bill (exceptionally bill adult-looking: dark maroon-red)
  • Wing and tail: moult has not taken place in the wing and tail feathers and therefore remain first-generation. Becoming very worn and brown areas fading.  Occasionally central tail feathers renewed (white).  Some lesser and medium coverts are moulted to second-generation, grey feathers (as adult).
  • In flight, the dark carpal bar on the upper wing stands out, formed by the lesser- and medium coverts. The trailing edge is black, similar to the tail edge (the outer tail feathers of some individuals are completely white). The primaries have a white base, extending in a drop-shape to a black tip. The outer primaries usually have small white tips.

Most of the description follows: 
P.J. Grant: "Gulls, a guide to identification".
K.M.Olsen: “Gulls of Europe, Asia and North America”.

 

1cy Black-headed Gull in July. (85237 bytes)Black-headed Gull 2cy
May 5, 2010, Starrevaart, Leidschendam, The Netherlands (52.10N 04.43E)
Photo: Maarten van Kleinwee.
1cy Black-headed Gull in July. (85237 bytes)Black-headed Gull 2cy Arnhem 3649154.
May 15, 2010, Starrevaart, Leidschendam, The Netherlands (52.10N 04.43E)
Photo: Maarten van Kleinwee.
1cy Black-headed Gull in July. (85237 bytes)Black-headed Gull 2cy
May 16, 2010, Starrevaart, Leidschendam, The Netherlands (52.10N 04.43E)
Photo: Maarten van Kleinwee.
1cy Black-headed Gull in July. (85237 bytes)Black-headed Gull 2cy E5YY.
May 56, 2013, Benthuizerplas, Zoetermeer, The Netherlands (52.07N 04.53E). Primary moult.
Photo: Maarten van Kleinwee.
1cy Black-headed Gull in July. (85237 bytes)Black-headed Gull 2cy E5TK.
May 26, 2010, Benthuizerplas, Zoetermeer, The Netherlands (52.07N 04.53E)
Photo: Maarten van Kleinwee.