Common name: Black-headed Gull
Scientific name: Larus ridibundus
Family: Laridae

Size:
Body length: 35–39 cm
Wingspan: 86–99 cm
Weight: 200–350 g

Identification:
A medium-sized gull with a slender build and relatively delicate appearance. In breeding plumage, it shows a distinctive chocolate-brown head (not truly black), contrasting with a white body and pale grey wings. In non-breeding plumage, the head becomes white with a dark spot behind the eye. The bill and legs are reddish. In flight, the wings show white leading edges and dark tips, giving a clean and elegant look.

Habitat:
Coastal areas, wetlands, lakes, estuaries, and inland water bodies. Frequently seen in urban environments, harbors, and even farmland.

Status in the UAE:
Common winter visitor. Widely recorded along coastlines, wetlands, and inland waters during the cooler months.

Diet:
Omnivorous — feeds on insects, small fish, crustaceans, worms, and human food waste. Often scavenges and adapts well to urban feeding opportunities.

Behavior:
Highly social and often found in flocks, especially during winter. Active and vocal, with frequent calls and interactions. Feeds both on water and land, often following fishing activity or gathering in feeding groups. Flight is buoyant and agile.

Conservation status:
Least Concern (IUCN Red List)