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PLATE 51: GULLS I
Brown-headed Gull Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus V
L: 43. W: 100. Slightly larger and heavier than Black-headed Gull, with stronger bill and pale eyes.
Told by broad black wing-tip breaking white leading edge above, dark grey leading primaries
below and small white mirror near wing-tip of both surfaces. In summer, hood paler brown than
Black-headed with clearer black rim at rear; in winter, head pattern much like Black-headed; but
iris yellow. First-winter birds have similar wing pattern, but broader black wing-tip without white
mirror; also bold blackish trailing edge to wings. Iris dark in juvenile but becomes pale during first
winter or spring, when most of inner wing and tail moulted to adult pattern. Voice Deep grarhh.
Habitat Coastal, lakes. Note Vagrant Iran, Oman, UAE.Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus WV
L: 38. W: 93. Medium-small gull, told (except from Slender-billed Gull) by broad white leading edge
of primaries, contrasting below with dark grey remaining primaries. In summer, has dark brown
hood (looking blackish except close to); in winter, head white with black spot on ear-coverts and,
often, vague bar from eye over crown and from ear-coverts over nape. Juvenile and first-winter have
adult-type primary pattern; told from similar Slender-billed Gull by slightly smaller size, shorter
bill with darker tip, shorter neck, less bulky breast, more distinct markings on head and always
dark eye. Flight light and buoyant. Voice Harsh krreeea. Habitat Coastal and inland waters; nests
colonially. Note Passage and winter hatched; a few summer in S Arabia.Slender-billed Gull Chroicocephalus genei PM, WV
L: 43. W: 100. Larger than Black-headed Gull, bill distinctly longer, forehead rather sloping with
long feathering at base of upper mandible accentuating length of bill. Wing pattern similar to
Black-headed, but head completely white in summer, when breast often has rosy tinge. Legs
longer; when alert appears curiously long-necked. In winter, often shows small greyish spot on
ear-coverts (larger, blacker in Black-headed), but no vague bar over crown or nape (as shown by
many Black-headed Gulls); iris pale in winter but dark in many breeding birds (always dark in Black-
headed). Dark red bill often appears blackish at distance. Juvenile and first-winter also told from
Black-headed by pale bill with poorly marked or unmarked tip (tip always dark in Black-headed) and
different head pattern (same as winter adult); pale iris starts to show during first winter. In flight
rather hunch-backed, with more protruding neck bulging downwards – useful characters with
experience. Voice Hoarse nasal yaarr, deeper and harsher than Black-headed, can recall squeal
of distant Water Rail; also abrupt cheery yap or yirp. Habitat Coastal and inland waters; nests
colonially. Note Mainly summer visitor to breeding sites; passage and winter hatched.Sabine’s Gull Xema sabini V
L: 34. W: 89. Smaller than Black-headed Gull with shallowly forked tail and diagnostic tricoloured
upperwing pattern. In summer, adult has slate-grey hood, in winter just a blackish nape-patch;
short black bill with yellow tip. Juvenile separated from similar Black-legged Kittiwake by
continuous brownish from crown and nape to mantle (also breast-sides), brownish forewing,
dusky bar on inner underwing (visible at close range), pale fleshy-grey legs and more forked tail
(young Black-legged Kittiwake has black band at base of white hindneck, black band on inner
wing, white underwing and black legs). Flight light; often swoops to water surface for food.
Habitat Maritime, occasionally driven onshore. Note Vagrant Iran, Oman, UAE.Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla V
L: 40. W: 95. Slightly larger than Black-headed Gull. Adult resembles Common Gull but has all-black
wing-tip without white spots, darker grey back and inner wing but whitish, translucent outer wing
and black legs. First-winter recalls much smaller Little Gull, but head white (just small black spot
behind eye) with bold, black band on hindneck, white secondaries and slightly forked tail. First-
summer birds often lack band on hindneck and sometimes lack bar on inner wing. Habitat Coastal
and offshore waters. Note Vagrant Iran, Oman, UAE.