Characteristics: A medium sized gull with a dark chocolate brown hood in Summer, with a red bill and legs. During the Summer months, the hood does not extend as far as the nape. In Winter it is reduced to dark smudges behind the eyes. The upper wings show large triangular white panels at the tips in flight and the under wings are grey looking, darker towards the tips.

Habitat: A common breeding bird on freshwater and marshes. Often nests in large colonies. Disperses over the oceans and inland waterways in Winter.

Habits: The black headed gull is a noisy and gregarious gull feeding on a wide variety of foods.