Black-headed Gull

A small gull of rivers, park ponds and the bay. Despite its name, its winter head is mostly white with just a dark spot behind the eye.

A recording has not been added yet. Use the identification notes below for now.

I know this bird · Record a sighting Where to look & how to find it ↓

FIELDCRAFT · FIND WITH CARE

Finding guide

Start close to home

Choose the season, find the habitat, then watch patiently. Search guidance is not a measure of rarity or conservation status.

When to go: All year; more numerous in autumn and winter
Where to start: The Liffey, St Stephen’s Green pond, Sandymount Strand and the Bull Island area.
What to do when you arrive: Look at urban waters in winter too: absence of the breeding hood does not rule it out. Check the dark ear spot, and compare head colour in breeding season.

Habitat and behaviour reference: BirdWatch Ireland ↗ · The practical steps are editorial advice based on the references, not live sightings.

SPECIES NOTESSpecies notes

How to identify it

Adults have a red bill and legs, pale grey back and a dark chocolate-brown summer hood. In winter the hood is replaced by an ear-spot. A bright white leading edge to the outer wing is useful in flight.

Habitat

Rivers, lakes, park ponds, estuaries, coasts and wet grassland.

Behaviour

Often feeds in flocks on invertebrates, insects and small fish. Many birds arriving in winter join the resident population.

When to look

All year; more numerous in autumn and winter

Where to look

The Liffey, St Stephen’s Green pond, Sandymount Strand and the Bull Island area.

Reference photos do not show every sex, age, season or geographic form; use the identification notes too.

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