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Blackheaded gull

Naerukajakas

Larus ridibundus

 

This is how we are used to see blackheaded gulls.

 

The young fly nicely already, breeding colonies are abandoned, and with the incipient moulting an important change occurs in the bird’s looks: the chocolate brown head "mask” disappears.

 

Blackheaded gulls at Põõsaspea headland.

 

Some of the blackheaded gulls already have their head mask coloured like "coffee with milk”. Within a month just two darker spots behind the eyes will be left and only an observant birdwatcher recognizes the blackheaded gulls.

 

Immature blackheaded gulls.

 

The immature birds start migrating already within a month towards central and southern Europe. Later we can see immature birds that have arrived from the north passing through.