Black-headed Gull
Chroicocephalus ridibundus
Tap image to enlarge · Wikimedia Commons
Overview
The Black-headed Gull is the default gull of the Sefton Coast — the one shrieking in car parks, following the plough, roosting in thousands at Marshside and covering every patch of open water. Despite the name, the brown-black hood only appears in summer; in winter they have a white head with just a dark smudge behind the eye. They're one of the most adaptable birds in Britain — equally at home on the estuary, the beach, a car park or a ploughed field.
At a Glance
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Laridae |
| Habitat | Coastal lagoon · Estuary · Beach · Farmland · Urban areas |
| Diet | Omnivorous — invertebrates, fish, scraps, earthworms, carrion |
| UK population | Around 140,000 pairs; amber-listed due to breeding decline |
| Sefton Coast | Abundant year-round throughout the Sefton Coast; the most numerous gull species |
| Conservation | UK Amber List |
Where to See It
Everywhere on the Sefton Coast — beach, Marshside lagoons, farmland, car parks, Marine Lake. Most abundant gull.
Identification
Small gull. Summer: dark brown-black hood, red bill and legs. Winter: white head with dark smudge behind eye, red bill. White leading edge to outer wing visible in flight — diagnostic. First-year birds have orange-brown wing patches.
Viewing & Photography Tips
They're everywhere. Just look at any gull flock and find the small ones with red bills. The white wing leading edge flash is distinctive in flight.
Conservation Status
UK Amber List
This species is on the UK Amber List for Birds (BoCC5), indicating moderate concern. Population monitoring and habitat management remain important for its continued recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Black-headed Gull called 'black-headed' when its head is brown?
The name dates from pre-modern ornithology when the distinction between dark brown and black was not consistently made. In summer breeding plumage the hood is a very dark chocolate-brown — in certain light it looks almost black. In winter the hood is lost entirely, replaced by just a dark smudge behind the eye, making the name even more misleading.
Related Species
Plan your visit to the Sefton Coast
Marshside RSPB, Formby pinewoods, Ainsdale NNR — practical guides to getting there, what to bring, and the best spots for each season.