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A photo of a Brown-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus)
Brown-headed Gull

Brown-headed Gull

Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus

The brown-headed gull (Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus) is a small gull which breeds in the high plateaus of central Asia from Tajikistan to Ordos in Inner Mongolia. It is migratory, wintering on the coasts and large inland lakes of the Indian Subcontinent. As is the case with many gulls, was traditionally placed in the genus Larus. This gull breeds in colonies in large reedbeds or marshes, or on islands in lakes, nesting on the ground. Like most gulls, it is highly gregarious in winter, both when feeding or in evening roosts. It is not a pelagic species, and is rarely seen at sea far from coasts. This is a bold and opportunist feeder, which will scavenge in towns or take invertebrates in ploughed fields with equal relish. The brown-headed gull is slightly larger than black-headed gull. The summer adult has a pale brown head, lighter than that of black-headed, a pale grey body, and red bill and legs. The black tips to the primary wing feathers have conspicuous white "mirrors". The underwing is grey with black flight feathers. The brown hood is lost in winter, leaving just dark vertical streaks. This bird takes two years to reach maturity. First year birds have a black terminal tail band, more dark areas in the wings, and, in summer, a less homogeneous hood.
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Brown-headed Gulls on Birda

Sightings

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Profile picture for Gurnoor Dhillon
Gurnoor Dhillon
Sunday 19 Mar 2023 - 8:11am
India
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Nishant Bhagwat
Saturday 25 Feb 2023 - 7:35am
India
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Nishant Bhagwat
Friday 10 Feb 2023 - 11:55am
India
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Nishant Bhagwat
Sunday 05 Feb 2023 - 7:30am
India
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