Black-headed Gull - Mouette rieuse - Lachmöwe

Description:

Most the year the Black-headed Gull has a white head. Shown here in its winter plumage, its black hood is gone, leaving just 2 dark spots. These noisy and quarrelsome birds are migratory, spending winter further south, but some birds in the milder and westernmost parts of Europe are resident.

Habitat:

The shores of a large Central European lake.

Notes:

In winter Lake Geneva is home to up to 50'000 back headed gulls. In Spring they return to Northern Germany, Poland, Russia and Scandinavia. Previously been placed in the genus Larus as many other gulls.