Sergey Dereliev

Widespread Palaearctic small gull. Breeding in colonies in reedbeds, marshy areas and ponds near coasts. Migratory behaviour ranges from resident to partial migrant or migratory. Migratory strategy increases with increasing latitude/longitude (BirdLife international 2021). 

Season of assessment

B

Population trendDecreasing
Population size
(min-max, best estimate)		2810000-4120000,3380000
Red List categoryLC
Franks, S., Fiedler, W., Arizaga, J., Jiguet, F., Nikolov, B., van der Jeugd, Ambrosini, R, Aizpurua, O., Bairlein, F., Clark, J., Fattorini, N, Hammond, M., Higgins, D, Levering, H., Skellorn, W., Spina, F, Thorup, K. Walker, J., Woodward, I. and Baillie, S.R. (1) (2022) Online Atlas of the movements of European bird populations. https://migrationatlas.org EURING/CMS (1) Principal investigator
Map

Overall Connectivity for Black-headed Gull

N and W European populations move across a NE-SW axis of migration. Fennoscandian population migrates mostly to British Islands the English Channel and the Wadden sea area. Few recoveries in N Africa and Iberia. W population partial migrant; those migrating reach Iberia. British population mostly resident or dispersive, with some recoveries in Iberia and one in Morocco. Birds from Iceland migratory (Olsen & Larsson 2004); recovery data from only two birds, found in Britain. C European birds show short-distance migration with SW direction; also many dispersive movements reported. E birds also move SW; those from the Baltic sea area move to W Europe; those breeding further inland (up to Russia) overwinter in SE Europe, E Mediterranean, up to Egypt (with an exceptional recovery in Congo).

Recoveries by Condition for Black-headed Gull

Overall, most recoveries are due to birds seen alive (ca. 83%). 32% of recoveries identified with metal ring, 26% with leg ring(s) and 14% identified by other means. The proportion of dead recoveries due to sickness or wound was found to be relatively high for the period before 1960 (48%) or 1961-1990 (44%), then decreasing up to <5% from 1990 to present. Proportion of dead recoveries by shot was 26% before 1960, 10% between 1961-1990; virtually zero from 1990 to present.

Annual Movements for Black-headed Gull

Post-fledging migration starts in Jun, peaks in mid-Aug/Sep. Spring migration starts in Feb. Arrival to breeding quarters is later with increasing latitude: the Baltic and Fennoscandian birds reach their breeding sites in late Mar/Apr. 

Connectivity by Month by Region for Black-headed Gull

A similar temporal pattern for all populations; see ‘Annual movements’.

Olatz Aizpurua & Juan Arizaga

References

Statistics Map
N records N individuals N recoveries
Mapped data*
Total available data
*Mapped data include only distant (>= 50 km) recoveries
References Map
BirdLife International 2021 . Species factsheet: Chroicocephalus ridibundus.
Olsen, K. M., Larsson, H.2004 . Gulls of Europe, Asia and North America. Helm Identification Guides, London

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