Grey-headed Gull
Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus
Inland and coastal. Grey head, back and upperwings; bill and legs red.
Gulls, Kittiwakes
LC
Not Endemic
Description
Common to abundant resident. Breeding adult has all-grey hood, pale yellow eyes and bright red bill and legs. Non-breeding adult has a grey smudge on the ear coverts only; cf. [Hartlaub’s Gull]. Immature has the front half of the head pale grey with a darker ear-patch that extends over the crown, a dark eye and either a dark-tipped bill with orange-pink base or a wholly dark bill (latter very rare variation). A gull of our inland waters (where it breeds) and coasts.
Quick Facts
Size
42 cm - L
Names
A: Gryskopmeeu
Z: indwewula
Ss: Mmamawatle wa hlohoputswa
G: Graukopfmöwe
Bird Family
A well-known group of scavenging shore and sea birds, most with white underparts and grey or black upperparts. Their tails are rounded or shallowly forked, their bills and feet yellowish or reddish. Gulls do not dive into the water, but pluck offal or refuse from the surface or from land. Flocks utter loud screaming sounds when feeding.
Distribution
Gallery
Behaviour
Breeding
Habitat
A gull of our inland waters (where it breeds) and coasts.
