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Gaviota reidora. Black-headed gull

Chroicocephalus ridibundus

Description:

South padre island

2 Species ID Suggestions

Isabela
Isabela 12 years ago
Gaviota reidora. Black-headed gull
Chroicocephalus ridibundus Chroicocephalus ridibundus


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8 Comments

Worth pointing out here, recent taxonomic changes means that the Larus Genus has been split up with several new Genera created, so while some Gulls are still Larus xxx many have new Genera, much longer and more of a mouthful!
Black-headed Gull is a misnomer as it does not have a jet-back head like this one but a brown-head. The similar Mediterranean Gull does have a jet-black head but white wingtips and, as it's name implies, is restricted to the Mediterranean and surrounding area, including parts of the North Sea, the Black Sea and North Africa.

AshleyT
AshleyT 8 years ago

Checking ranges is always a really good idea. If you had done so, you would see the black-headed gull is a European and Asian species, and when it comes to North America, it's only in Canada and Maine. Nowhere even close to Texas.

SusanEllison
SusanEllison 12 years ago

good shot!

Liz Orduno
Liz Orduno 12 years ago

Yes we are very close to mexico, I'm fact this was taken at south padre island near the gulf of Mexico.

Ah, the Mediterranean Gull has white wing tips, not black!

Ashish Nimkar
Ashish Nimkar 12 years ago

Lovely bird..

Nice picture of a Gull, but which species I cannot tell as I don't have my books with me, but it does look very similar to a summer Mediterranean Gull (Larus melanocephalus) - do they normally reach the Gulf of Mexico?

The MnMs
The MnMs 12 years ago

Nice! bonita!

Liz Orduno
Spotted by
Liz Orduno

Texas, USA

Spotted on Jun 10, 2011
Submitted on Jun 11, 2011

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