Help please. Is this a Common Gull? (1 Viewer)

[John Nihon]

I'm not really good at identification as you can probably guess but was wondering if someone could tell me what sort of gull this is.

When I try and do a lookup I'm not completely sure. Common gulls in the pictures I refer to appear to have more yellowish legs and beaks. Mediterranean gulls and Black-headed gulls have red legs and beaks but mine doesn't have much of a black head, although it does have a splash of black behind the eyes.

Could it be some sort of a cross or something else?

​

If it helps, it was walking on a canal in Hertfordshire, UK.

 

[davpen]

It's an adult winter Black-headed Gull

 

[John Nihon]

It's an adult winter Black-headed Gull

That's great, thank you very much for your quick response davpen, much appreciated. It not having much of a black head through me off.

 

[Deb Burhinus]

It’s a lovely image John!

You are right in your description of Common Gulls - greenish/yellowish legs and dark eyes cf to Black-headed and Mediterranean Gull - the latter in adult plumage lacking the black wing feathers you see on your bird. Both Mediterranean and Black-headed Gull loose their dark hoods in winter. ( In summer, the hood of Mediterranean Gull is black, on Black-headed Gulls, the hood is brown 😁)

Winter adult Med Gull

ML45935251 - Mediterranean Gull - Macaulay Library

Macaulay Library ML45935251; © Ric Else; Merseyside, England, United Kingdom

macaulaylibrary.org

Winter adult Black-headed Gull (with 1st winter behind it)

ML301453301 - Black-headed Gull - Macaulay Library

Macaulay Library ML301453301; © Robert Dolezal; Jihomoravský kraj, Czech Republic

macaulaylibrary.org

Winter adult Common Gull

ML298652021 - Common Gull - Macaulay Library

Macaulay Library ML298652021; © Mark Andrews; Leicestershire, England, United Kingdom

macaulaylibrary.org

Ps I am assuming it wasn’t a miracle gull but walking on ice!😉

 

[John Nihon]

It’s a lovely image John!

You are right in your description of Common Gulls - greenish/yellowish legs and dark eyes cf to Black-headed and Mediterranean Gull - the latter in adult plumage lacking the black wing feathers you see on your bird. Both Mediterranean and Black-headed Gull loose their dark hoods in winter. ( In summer, the hood of Mediterranean Gull is black, on Black-headed Gulls, the hood is brown 😁)

Winter adult Med Gull

ML45935251 - Mediterranean Gull - Macaulay Library

Macaulay Library ML45935251; © Ric Else; Merseyside, England, United Kingdom

macaulaylibrary.org

Winter adult Black-headed Gull (with 1st winter behind it)

ML301453301 - Black-headed Gull - Macaulay Library

Macaulay Library ML301453301; © Robert Dolezal; Jihomoravský kraj, Czech Republic

macaulaylibrary.org

Winter adult Common Gull

ML298652021 - Common Gull - Macaulay Library

Macaulay Library ML298652021; © Mark Andrews; Leicestershire, England, United Kingdom

macaulaylibrary.org

Ps I am assuming it wasn’t a miracle gull but walking on ice!😉

WOW, that's fantastic. Thank you ever so much for all the info Deb, most useful! I've book marked that website, it's far better than what I was looking at.

Thank you also for the image compliment, it was indeed walking on ice. ⛸️⛸️🐧

 

[Lisa W]

Very nice photo. Please remember, per forum rules, to post the location in the thread title. We have found that people in your area are more apt to chime in & provide help.

 

[John Nihon]

Very nice photo. Please remember, per forum rules, to post the location in the thread title. We have found that people in your area are more apt to chime in & provide help.

Thank you Lisa. I'll try to remember for next time. One day I'll manage to get it right.