Wild Wednesday - Black headed gull
Despite its name, the black-headed gull doesn't actually have a black head! In summer, its head is a rich chocolate-brown, which turns white for the rest of the year, leaving two neat black spots that look like tiny headphones.
Its scientific name, Chroicocephalus ridibundus, means “laughing gull,” inspired by its distinctive calls that sound like “ke-ke-ke” and “kverarrr.”
These sociable, noisy birds are often seen squabbling over food and nesting in large colonies.
You can spot them almost anywhere in West Sussex-from coastal areas like Littlehampton and Pagham Harbour to inland wetlands and farmland. They're here all year round, with around 140,000 breeding pairs in the UK and up to 2.2 million winter visitors.
How to identify one:
- silvery-grey back and wings
- white underside
- red legs and a reddish-orange beak
- black wingtips
They feed on worms, insects, fish, and even carrion (decaying flesh of dead animals). Most live 11-13 years, but some reach 30!
Next time you're walking along the Arun coastline or exploring our nature reserves, keep an eye out for these lively gulls - they're part of our local wildlife all year round.