Black-headed gull. Black-headed gull Brown-headed gull

Many people associate seagulls with the sea, and for this reason they are sung in poetry, art and music. Ornithologists classify such birds as members of the order Charadriiformes, belonging to the family of the same name as the bird - gulls.

They are the most famous among sea birds, since since ancient times they have lived close to cities and human settlements.

These creatures stand out from the rest of the feathered tribe with unique characteristics and features. It is possible to get acquainted with their features seagulls in the photo. In appearance, these are birds of medium or large size.

The range of dense and smooth plumage can be white or gray, often complemented by black areas on the birds' heads or wings. The most famous and widespread type includes seagulls with a dark head, black wings and a light body.

Gulls, like most waterfowl, have webbed feet.

You can also see, although rarely, a single-colored gull. In addition, these birds have medium-sized wings and a tail, a slightly curved, strong beak, and membranes on their legs.

When communicating with relatives, these creatures of nature use a huge number of different sounds. Such signals can be part of mating ceremonies, indicate the presence of food and warn of danger.

The cries of such birds, which are often heard on the coasts of all seas and oceans of the globe, are usually unusually exciting and piercing, and most importantly, loud, because they can be heard from many hundreds of meters away.

Types of seagulls

It is assumed that the ancient ancestors of these representatives of the bird kingdom were terns, blotches, waders and cutwaters. All this birds, similar to seagulls. For example, terns have many similarities with the described winged creatures and are also famous for their tirelessness in flight.

In total, scientists number about sixty species of seagulls. Although it is difficult to accurately classify these birds due to the tendency for interspecific crossing.

Naturally, for this reason, representatives of new generations of gulls are endowed with the characteristic features of two parental varieties at once. Next, the hybrids are crossed again and inherit the characteristics of more and more new species.

All of them have striking distinctive appearance features and rare properties, although in essence they are largely similar.

Among the existing ones, the following interesting varieties can be distinguished.

• Herring gull– among its relatives there is a fairly large specimen. The body length in some cases reaches 67 cm, weight – up to one and a half kilograms. The powerful physique of these birds is impressive.

The head, which looks a little angular, is white in summer, and in winter it is covered with a characteristic motley pattern. The pattern at the end of the wing also changes. The birds have a powerful beak and an impudent expression in their eyes.

Most often, these creatures are found on sea coasts, but also take root near lakes, rivers and swamps with other birds.

The herring gull has the plumage we are familiar with

• Large sea ​​gulls are distinguished by a characteristic red spot on the mandible of the usually yellow beak. The top of the body of such winged creatures is dark, the bottom is white. The wing, dark on the outside, is bordered at the edges with light.

The young are distinguished by their brownish plumage with a pattern of stripes and spots. Fully-formed individuals are often compared to impressive black whales, and they look a lot like them. This is for real big seagull.

Such birds are found on European and North American ocean coasts, often on rocky islands.

A distinctive feature of a large gull is the presence of a red spot on its beak

• The glaucous gull is like a smaller copy of the silver gull, but its appearance is more elegant: long wings, a rounded head, and a thin beak. Feather color undergoes seasonal changes. Body length reaches 46 cm.

• black-headed gull Of the known varieties, the specimen is quite small. In summer, the plumage on the head of such birds is brown (in winter, this shade mostly disappears), and there are white circles around the eyes.

At the end of the wings there is a characteristic, very noticeable pattern. This variety is widespread throughout the European continent.

Black-headed gulls have black head plumage

• The black-headed gull is larger than the black-headed gull, although in appearance there are enough similarities with this relative. Adults are distinguished by white flight feathers.

This black-headed seagull It happens all summer, but with the onset of cold weather its color changes. There are many such birds in the north of the Black Sea region and in Turkey. Their colonies are found in the west and central regions of Europe.

• The pink gull is a rare species, but very beautiful. The plumage of such birds is monochromatic and soft pink, which is simply a magical sight. Photos of such creatures are especially fascinating.

The beak and paws of this species of birds can be yellow, red or black. The winter feather plumage is unusually beautiful, but in the spring this spectacle may not be so impressive due to molting.

It should be noted that the motley plumage of young individuals has a brownish tint.

The photo shows a pink seagull

• The white gull is a small circumpolar bird. The body length is only 45 cm. It lives in Arctic latitudes, as well as in regions of the north with similar climates. Lives in colonies and nests in rocks.

Such white seagull by feather color. It feeds on carrion and invertebrates. The excrement of polar bears, walruses and seals is quite suitable as food for such creatures.

White gull inhabitant of the Arctic regions

• The black-headed gull is a very remarkable species. Firstly, because this specimen is of impressive size. Birds are capable of reaching an average length of 70 cm. At the same time, their weight can reach 2 kg or more.

Secondly, this species is very rare. In addition, the appearance of the creatures described is very interesting. As the name suggests, the head of a bird black. Gull This variety also boasts a brilliant feather shade in this area.

The beak is yellow with a red tip. The main background of the body is white, the wings are gray, the paws are yellow. Such birds deserve their name for the characteristic sounds they make, which are multiple “ay”.

Black-headed Laughing Gull

• Gray gull has average sizes in comparison with its relatives. It is found in the western regions of the South, settling along the Pacific coast. The plumage of the birds is lead-gray. They have black legs and beak.

You can distinguish a gray gull not only by its plumage, but also by its black legs and beak.

Lifestyle and habitat

Seagulls are found throughout the planet, where there are bodies of water suitable for such birds. However, some species of these birds prefer exclusively temperate latitudes, while others prefer the tropical zone.

Some types of gulls are found along the coasts of vast seas and vast oceans. They tend to live sedentary lives. The rest of the species choose lakes and rivers and inhabit desert oases. These types of birds most often migrate during unfavorable seasons, preferring to move to the warm sea corners of the globe.

But some colonies of birds remain in their usual places of existence: in areas of large cities, where they feed on food waste.

These birds are simply excellent flyers. All this is facilitated by the peculiarities of their structure, in particular the shape of the wings and tail. In the air they feel like they are in a cozy home. Such birds are able to fly tirelessly and move record distances.

Birds are also known for their pirouettes, maneuvers and stunts during flight. These birds have webbed feet that allow them to swim beautifully. Gull It moves quickly through water, just as it runs on land.

These winged creatures, like most waterfowl, form flocks. Their colonies can be a huge community and include several thousand individuals, but there are also very small groups, the number of members of which is one or two dozen.

Looking at the seagulls soaring above the sea wave, striking with their beauty and tranquility, many feel a surge of romantic inspiration. However, the satisfied appearance of the bird testifies more to the abundance of food in those regions of prosperity where it hunts and lives.

But if there is not enough food, these birds very soon take on the guise of greedy and daring predators, capable of fighting for a piece of food with incredible aggressiveness not only with adult relatives from the flock members, but even with fledgling chicks.

But when danger arises, these creatures instantly unite together to fight together against a common enemy. And it could be a fox, a bear, an arctic fox, among birds - a raven, a falcon, or a person who encroaches on their life.

They unite in flocks of seagulls while hunting, as well as fighting off threats

To prevent enemy attacks and protect themselves, seagulls have a wonderful and well-functioning warning system.

Nutrition

What makes these birds unsurpassed hunters is their evenly pointed, thin beak, which allows them to catch any prey, even slippery and sticky ones. The main part of their diet is small fish and squid.

Often seagull bird feasts on the remains of prey from predators larger than itself, hovering close to schools of dolphins, whales and other marine predators.

In search of food, these birds make endless circles over the water, boldly fly considerable distances from the coastline, constantly watching what is happening in shallow waters.

In this way, they track down schools of fish, which, rising to the upper layers of the ocean, often become easy prey for hungry seagulls. But when hunting for their victims, seagulls do not know how to dive to significant depths.

These birds often look for food along the coastline, going in search of the carcasses of fur seals and seals. They pick up dead mollusks, starfish, and other representatives of ocean fauna.

Species that live in the steppe near water bodies and beyond the Arctic Circle are often content with plants and berries, catching voles and mice, and a variety of insects.

It just so happens that on planet Earth today there is enough food for such birds. And the abundance of food supply is associated with human life. Oddly enough, this time, people are helping the survival of these birds, and not contributing to the destruction of these bird species.

It is precisely because of the abundance of food near human settlements that seagulls have been accustomed since ancient times to settle close to the signs of civilization. They tend to move to ports and beaches, where they look for tasty morsels - leftover food from people. Birds often do not hesitate to feast on waste in city landfills.

Reproduction and lifespan

Married couples of these birds do not break up during their lives, and each partner remains faithful to the other, content with the company of their only one until death. However, in the event of the death of the chosen one, there is usually another roommate.

The mating season for seagulls occurs once a year. The courtship of birds before mating consists of making certain, rather complex movements of the head, body and entire plumage. Such rituals are usually accompanied by vocal signals.

seagull cry in such cases it resembles meowing. Immediately before intercourse, the partner brings his lady a treat, which serves as confirmation of the good relationship in this married couple.

Seagulls begin building their nests between April and June. Cozy houses for chicks can be located on narrow ledges, right on the grass or even on the sand. The material for construction is selected depending on the type of terrain.

Marine species of gulls pick up wood chips and shells. In the Arctic Circle, birds usually use reeds, dry algae, and grass.

A mother seagull lays up to three colorful eggs at a time. Then she spends a month (or a slightly shorter period of time) incubating the offspring. And a caring male provides his partner with food in abundance.

Soon the chicks are born. They do not hatch all together, but usually at intervals of one or two days. The offspring of seagulls, covered with thick down, are unusually viable from the very first hours of life, and also have developed visual organs.

Laying seagull eggs in a nest

True, newborn chicks lack the ability to move independently, but not for long. Only a few days pass and the new generation is already embarking on its journey through the bird colony.

The struggle for existence among the chicks is quite fierce, and parents, as a rule, give preference to the older ones. Therefore, it happens that with a lack of food, the youngest gull cubs die.

The down of chicks is an unusually successful camouflage for them, saving them in case of danger. Because of this, small creatures become inconspicuous against the background of sea stones and sand.

Seagull chicks have plumage that makes it easier for them to camouflage themselves.

Young individuals find their own pair for procreation at the age of one or three. Such birds live in nature, if unexpected death does not overtake them earlier, for about twenty years. However, the lifespan of such birds on earth largely depends on the variety. For example, individuals of herring gulls have a good chance of living up to 49 years.

It should be noted that recently many have begun to consider these birds harmful, posing a significant threat to the entire ecosystem. It's all about the decrease in the number of fish in the planet's oceans, which has become especially noticeable in recent decades.

The consequence of such a hasty decision by greedy and selfish representatives of the human race is the mass destruction of these beautiful winged creatures in many regions.

However, when forming an opinion about them, it is necessary to take into account the benefits of such birds. By eating the corpses of living beings and leftover food, they thus fight for the ecological purity of the surrounding space.

The black-headed gull or common (river) gull (Larus ridibundus) is a small bird of the gull family, nesting across a vast territory of Eurasia, as well as on the Atlantic coast of Canada.

The black-headed gull is common in Russia. It can often be observed in the summer on rivers, lakes and ponds where it circles over the water surface in search of food. In most of its range it is a migratory bird, although in some areas of Western Europe it leads a sedentary lifestyle.

This is one of the most common gulls in the world - its total number exceeds two million pairs. It nests mainly in small freshwater bodies of water in colonies, the size of which can reach several thousand pairs. Often settles near large cities.

The common gull (Larus ridibundus) is a small, graceful gull with a rounded head and a thin beak. Length 35-39 centimeters, wingspan 86-99 centimeters, weight 200-350 grams.

The black-headed gull (Larus ridibundus) is significantly (about a third) larger than the little gull, but somewhat smaller than the sea dove and the common gull.

Common gulls (Larus ridibundus)

Among the color features of the common gull (Larus ridibundus) are a wide white stripe in the upper front part of the wing and a black border in the back, also characteristic of the sea dove and Bonaparte's gull, but not found in other species. Belongs to a group of gulls with a two-year plumage cycle.

There is an interesting one in the gull family, the numbers of which have been growing in Europe, Asia and Canada in recent years. Compared to other small gulls, she is graceful and friendly. This interesting one is called black-headed gull.

Male and female black-headed gull

Features and habitat of the black-headed gull

Sometimes, for variety, they can eat plant seeds, but this food is less to their taste. Black-headed gulls do not disdain food waste found in landfills. In order to catch for itself, the bird does not completely immerse itself in the water, but only partially dips its head into it. She can catch a grasshopper in a meadow with amazing dexterity.

Reproduction and lifespan of the black-headed gull

Sexually mature river gulls become at the age of one year. In females this occurs a little earlier than in males. monogamous. Sometimes, in order for them to form a permanent couple, they have to change more than one partner.

After the flight, the birds are busy searching for food and improving their homes. They do not fly far from the colonies. This is the period when they are the most noisy and restless. Especially in the air, they behave loudly and defiantly, chasing each other and shouting only sounds that they understand.

You can see a pair forming. During their first acquaintance, if the birds sympathize with each other, the female bends over and points her head towards the male, as if begging him for food. The male feeds her with pleasure.

Couples build their nests in places that are difficult for humans and predators to visit. During laying, they lay mostly 3 eggs. If the masonry disappears for some reason, do it again. The color of the eggs can be blue, dark brown or olive brown. Both parents incubate them.

The appearance of an uninvited guest in the colony is accompanied by frantic screams and general alarm. they rise into the sky screaming and begin to frantically circle over a potential enemy, showering him with their droppings.

After 23-24 days, chicks are born, with buffy-brown and black-brown plumage. This color gives them the opportunity to merge with nature and remain unnoticed by enemies for a long time. Parents distribute all responsibilities in raising children equally among themselves.

With great care they feed them from beak to beak or throw food directly into the nest, from where the chicks happily pick it up on their own. Attempts to fly in babies begin at 25-30 days. The lifespan of black-headed gulls reaches up to 32 years.

Larus ridibundus Linnaeus, 1766
Order Charadriiformes - Charadriiformes
Gull family - Laridae

Spreading. In the Moscow region. - a widespread semi-aquatic species (1). On the territory of Moscow in 1985-2000. Colonies of black-headed gulls were on the LPF, ponds in the upper reaches of the Navershka River and Troekurovsky Stream, in the Mnevnikovskaya and Krylatskaya floodplains, on the Dolgoprudnensky V-BK (2). By 2003, the largest settlement of black-headed gulls in the Moscow region on the LPF, known there since the mid-1970s, ceased to exist (3, 4). During the revision period, their colonies were registered on Kosinsky Black Lake. since 2002 (5.6), since 2007 - in the Kozhukhovskaya depression (7, 8), in the Brateevskaya floodplain since 2003 (9-11), on Troekurovsky pond in 2001-2004 and 2006. (7), in the Mnevnikovskaya and Krylatskaya floodplains (7, 12), Dolgoprudnensky V-BK (7, 13). Single pairs nested on Krugloye Lake. in the Kuzminsky forest (14), in the valleys of the Yazvenka (8) and Gorodnya (15) rivers, since 2008 - on one of the ponds in Pokrovsky-Streshnevo (7, 16, 17). Attempts of several pairs to nest at Saburovsky Hall have been recorded. in 2008 and 2009 (7, 19), as well as on a swampy reservoir between the Biryulevsky forest and the Vidnovskaya railway. branch in 2001 (7).

Number. On the territory of Moscow, 7 colonies of black-headed gulls are currently known, in which in different years there were from 7-15 pairs on Kosinsky Black Lake. (6), in the Kozhukhovskaya depression (7, 8) and on the pond at the head of the Troekurovsky stream (7) up to 500 pairs at the Dolgoprudnensky V-BK (13). The total number of the species at the end of the revision period did not exceed 900 pairs.

Habitat Features. On the territory of Moscow, nesting colonies of black-headed gulls are confined to heavily swampy lakes, oxbow lakes and ponds overgrown with cattails, reeds, sedges and small willows, as well as flooded areas. In all cases, birds settle in places least accessible to humans and four-legged predators. Dense nesting and collective defense of the occupied territory allow them to successfully resist the attacks of hooded crows on nests and chicks.

Typically, gulls feed at a considerable distance from the colony, visiting in search of food not only the shores of reservoirs, but also arable lands located outside the city and, especially regularly, household waste sites. The active urbanization of the core of the Moscow urban agglomeration with all the by-products of this process, primarily the emergence of large landfills of household waste at a distance accessible to gulls nesting within Moscow, allowed them to switch to food of mainly anthropogenic origin.

In a relatively short period of time, they quickly adapted to living and reproducing in a hyper-urbanized environment: their colonies can successfully exist in industrial zones, next to major highways, near places of public recreation and even in built-up areas. In such extreme conditions, birds continue to nest until the areas they occupy fall within the scope of activity of builders; Large colonies, in addition, depend on the proximity of household waste landfills, which have become the main feeding ground for urban gulls.

In different areas of Moscow, black-headed gulls occasionally nest in the corresponding biotopes in single pairs, which may in the future become more common for this species in the city. A small number of these gulls winter within the city limits on the ice-free Moscow River. Their colonies in Moscow are the most important factor ensuring the successful reproduction of a number of rare waterfowl and semi-aquatic birds for the city.

Negative factors. There is a limited number of wetlands in Moscow that are suitable for the formation of nesting colonies of black-headed gulls. Anthropogenic transformation of wetland biotopes preserved in Moscow. Urban development of the Brateevskaya, Mnevnikovskaya and Krylatskaya floodplains. Placement of a residential area in close proximity to the Dolgoprudnensky V-BK. Planned improvement of the Kozhukhovskaya basin. Burning dry semi-aquatic vegetation. Predation of the American mink in the Mnevnikovskaya floodplain. Predation of nests by people (seizure of eggs). Use of boats and jet skis at the Krylatsky quarry.

Security measures taken. On the territory of Moscow, the species was under special protection from 1978 to 1996, in 2001 it was listed in KR 3. Nesting colonies in the Mnevnikovskaya and Krylatskaya floodplains, on Kosinsky Black Lake, and the pond at the head of the Troekurovsky stream are located in protected areas - in P - IP “Moskvoretsky”, “Kosinsky” and PZ “Valley of the Setuni River” in areas subject to allocation in the land plot or PPr. In 2006, the Navershka River Valley was included in the Setuni River Valley Nature Reserve. It is planned to create the Federal Laws “Brateevskaya Floodplain” and “Long Ponds”.

Changing the state of a view. With a slight increase in the total number of black-headed gull colonies in the periods 1985-2000. and 2001-2010 from 5 to 7, the number of species from 15 thousand pairs only on the forest farm in 1986 (20) decreased by 2000 to 7.5-8.5 thousand pairs in 5 colonies (21) and to 900 pairs in 7 colonies by 2009 (6-8, 10, 12, 22). The type CR changes from 3 to 2.

Necessary measures to preserve the species. The first priority is the creation of the Federal Law “Brateevskaya Floodplain” and “Long Ponds”, an ornithological reserve near the square. “Mark” (pond on the Koroviy Vrag river and adjacent lands of the PC), establishment of the Kosinsky Lakes PPR, Kozhukhovskaya Kotlovina ZU, “Round Lake in the Kuzminsky Forest”, “Saburovsky Bay of the Lower Tsaritsynsky Pond”, “Ponds in the upper reaches of the river” .Navershki”, “Habitat of rare water birds (including a colony of black-headed gulls) in the Mnevnikovskaya floodplain”, “Krylatskaya floodplain”.

Identification of protected zones around them that are not subject to development and recreational development, with a ban on free access to them during the nesting season. In connection with the placement of a residential area on the shore of the Dolgoprudnensky V-BC - the development and implementation of a set of special administrative, planning and protective measures to preserve the colony of black-headed gulls; explanatory and educational work among the population about the inadmissibility of any actions that could cause harm to these birds.

Cancellation of administrative documents on the placement of construction projects in the Brateevskaya floodplain and its environmental rehabilitation: withdrawal of the construction market, garages and other objects; reclamation of land plots cleared from development with the reconstruction of a system of shallow reservoirs with mudflats and hollows; preservation of lowland swamps in the floodplain over the largest possible area.

A ban on the use of boats and jet skis at the Krylatsky quarry. Introduction of seasonal restrictions on fishing in water bodies used and suitable for nesting of the species. Strengthening control over compliance with the ban on spring fires in the coastal zones of reservoirs with colonies of black-headed gulls. Establishment of independent administrative liability with increased fines for burning dry vegetation (spring fires) on the territory of Moscow as an action that causes significant harm to almost all wildlife objects. Constant monitoring of black-headed gull colonies, existing and potential breeding sites for the species in Moscow. Educational work with the population about the great natural value of nesting colonies of gull birds and the importance of their conservation in Moscow.

Information sources. 1. Kalyakin, Voltsit, 2006. 2. Red Book of the City of Moscow, 2001. 3. Zubakin, 2004. 4. Data from G.S. Eremkin. 5. Eremkin, 2004. 6. Data from I.M. Panfilova. 7. Authors' data. 8. G.S. Eremkin, l.s. 9. Data from P.V. Kvartalnov. 10. Eremkin, 2009a. 11. Data from A.E. Varlamov. 12. Sazonov, 2009a, 2009b. 13. Data from A.P. Ivanov. 14. Panfilova, 2009. 15. Kulenova, Kulenov, 2010. 18. Shtarev, 2008. 19. Data from D.V. Bazhenov. 2010. 20. Zubakin, 1987. 21. Data from A.V. Zubakin. 22. Eremkin, 2009. Authors: B.L. Samoilov, G.V. Morozova

When you hear the word “seagull,” your imagination pictures a snow-white, beautiful, proud bird sedately soaring over the surface of the sea. But in reality, seagulls live near any more or less large body of water, not just the sea, and there are more than 20 species of them. Today we will talk about a bird that has chosen reservoirs far from the sea for housing - black-headed gulls even settle in cities.

Description

The black-headed gull belongs to the gull family, order Charadriiformes. The appearance is the same as that of birds of this family - densely built, smooth plumage, tail and wings not too long, not very short. In size it is inferior to relatives of other species - the bird is small, slightly larger than a city pigeon.

• Body length - from 38 to 44 cm.
• Weight - 200-350 g.
• The wingspan is from 95 to 104 cm.

The wings have one small feature - there is a dark stripe at the back, and the front part of the wing is decorated with white. In summer, the head up to the back of the head is chocolate-brown in color; in winter it becomes white with dark brown spots on the sides. There is a thin white ring around the eyes.

1. The beak is red, somewhat curved, with serrations on the inside (so that the fish does not slip out).
   The mandible is a bright red rich color.
2. The plumage is mostly white and pink. The wings are mostly light grey.
3. The paws are the same color as the beak - red.

Young birds are gray-brown in color, with many red and brown spots on the wings. The legs with the beak are colored yellow in dark tones. The tail is decorated with a dark brown stripe.

Habitat

Distributed almost everywhere throughout Eurasia - from Iceland and the islands of Britain to the Far East, the Kuril Islands and Kamchatka. It lives even in the inhospitable cold north - the nests of black-headed gulls are found in Greenland, the Scandinavian countries and some North American areas.

They also live in the south of France, northern Italy, the post-Soviet space - in Crimea, the Caucasus region, and Turkestan. They live in the lakeside regions of Mongolia.

Nutrition

It mainly feeds on insects, loves worms - it hunts them both in water and on land. It also catches crayfish, mollusks, and a variety of small fish such as bleak. Catches small birds and destroys their nests. It is quite clever to catch insects in the meadows - grasshoppers, dragonflies.

You can often see flocks of birds searching for food near fish processing plants - collecting unprocessed waste. They also visit landfills, collecting discarded food scraps. When there is nothing to eat, they look for plant seeds - however, such food is consumed only during times of lack of food. Does not hesitate to eat carrion.

When catching fish, the bird does not dive completely, only partially immersing its head in the water.

Nesting

Sexual maturity occurs in the second year of life. Moreover, females become sexually mature a little earlier than males. Birds remain faithful to one partner, that is, they are monogamous. Sometimes, in order to find a permanent life partner, you have to make several attempts, living with different partners.

Gulls nest in colonies, the size of which varies from 5-6 pairs to several hundred, or even thousands of birds. Colonies are often heterogeneous in composition; they may contain gulls of other species or terns.

Nests are made on hummocks in reservoirs with stagnant or slowly flowing water in places inaccessible to humans and animals.

Last year's dried sedge, reeds, cattails and everything that a seagull can find is used as building material. Any litter lying around is suitable for construction - scraps of nets, cans of cans, feathers, and so on.

The construction of the nest is very simple - a low, cone-shaped flooring with a round bottom is made from plants and scrap materials, in the middle of which a recess is built for the eggs. If the place is dry, then the flooring is made thin, but the more dampness there is at the construction site, the denser and thicker the bottom is. Both representatives of the couple participate in the construction.

The clutch consists of 3 eggs of gray or bluish color, mottled with brown spots. The female incubates the eggs for two to three and a half weeks. Around mid-May, the chicks appear, and they are born already covered with feathers of ocher-brown or black-brown color. This color plays a camouflage role and allows you to be invisible to enemies. Children stay in the nest for 10-12 days, fed by their parents. Both birds participate in this process. Feeding occurs in a standard way - either the chicks are fed beak to beak, or food is placed at the bottom of the nest, and the babies pick it up and eat it. After about a month, the young birds begin to try to fly.

Wintering

Most gulls go to spend the winter on the Mediterranean coast, the north of the African continent or the countries of Eastern Europe. In the post-Soviet space, warm southern regions are chosen for the winter - the Caspian or Black Sea coast, lakes Issyk-Kul and Balkhash.

1. As soon as the young individual learns to fly, it immediately leaves the parental nest.
2. The black-headed gull is one of the few species that live not only in areas near the sea, but also inland.
3. The bird has a good appetite, it is a rather voracious bird. It eats approximately 200-230 grams of insects per day. And that's not counting the fish.
4. In the nesting areas there is an unceasing constant din and noise. Often it comes to squabbles and fights. Moreover, any little thing can serve as a reason: let’s say two birds quarreled over a piece of fish and a good part of the colony can immediately get into a quarrel.
5. The seagull's voice is unique and difficult to describe. There is laughter, and the cry of an angry cat, and similarities with the cry of a crow. Seagulls scream all the time, never stopping.
6. If, during the period of incubation or feeding of children, danger or an uninvited guest is noticed anywhere nearby, the entire colony begins to worry - the birds take off, cry heart-rendingly, trying to pour out as much droppings as possible on the intruder.
7. Seagulls tend to eat not only the eggs of other birds, but also those of their colony neighbors. Sometimes even chicks are eaten. Therefore, birds sometimes have to lay eggs several times.

Video: Black-headed gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)