The Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) is a common, adaptable Eurasian gull known for its dark brown summer hood (not truly black) that disappears in winter, leaving white heads with dark ear spots.
These sociable birds live near freshwater and coastal wetlands, feed on insects, worms, fish, and human scraps, nest on the ground in colonies, and get their Latin name, "ridibundus" (laughing), from their distinctive calls.
