Photo: Mvshreeram / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Brown-headed Gull
Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus
Brown-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 8 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Brown-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus) is a member of the Laridae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 569 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Charadriiformes
- Family Laridae Gulls, Terns, Skimmers
- Genus Chroicocephalus
- Species brunnicephalus
Where it lives
Inland Tibetan Plateau of Tajikistan, Xinjiang (western China), Ladakh (far northwestern India) and Tibet
Quick facts
- Weight
- 569 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Laridae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Not Evaluated
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Brown-headed Gull hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Brown-headed Gull is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Brown-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus) belongs to the Laridae family of the order Charadriiformes. Its range spans Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL inland Tibetan Plateau of Tajikistan, Xinjiang (w China), Ladakh (far nw India) and Tibet.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 569 g, with a wing length of about 33.4 cm and a tail of around 12.6 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Brown-headed Gull?
The Brown-headed Gull is a large bird that weighs around 569 g.
Where does the Brown-headed Gull live?
The Brown-headed Gull is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL inland Tibetan Plateau of Tajikistan, Xinjiang (w China), Ladakh (far nw India) and Tibet, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Brown-headed Gull belong to?
The Brown-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus) belongs to the Laridae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Brown-headed Gull eat?
The Brown-headed Gull hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Brown-headed Gull migrate?
The Brown-headed Gull is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Brown-headed Gull endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Brown-headed Gull make?
1 real field recording of the Brown-headed Gull — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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