1. Black-headed gull – Larus ridibundus
Black-headed gull is a small bird with a body length of 20-26 cm, a wingspan of 50-60 cm, and a weight of 60-80 g. In an adult, the plumage of the upper body is dark-gray, the bottom of the body is white, there is a characteristic bang on the head. Black-headed gull has a short, straight beak and long, thin legs.
Black-headed gull is common in Europe, Asia and Africa. In Ukraine, it nests throughout the territory, except for the Crimea.
Black-headed gull is an ordinary migratory bird. It winters in Africa, South Asia and Australia. The black-headed gull nests on the banks of rivers, lakes and other reservoirs, among reeds or other coastal vegetation. It builds its nests on the ground, in a small pit. There are 3-5 eggs in a black-headed gull's clutch. The eggs are incubated by the female and the male in turn. Chicks hatch after 22-24 days. After hatching, the chicks grow quickly and begin to fly after a few weeks.
The black-headed gull feeds on small invertebrates such as insects, mollusks, crustaceans, and worms. It can also eat small fish, frogs, and other small animals.
Black-headed gull is a fairly common species, but in some regions its number is decreasing. The reasons for this are pollution of water bodies, destruction of coastal plants and poaching.
In Ukraine, black-headed gull is listed in the Red Book in the status of "Invaluable".
Photo: Volodymyr Kucherenko