Birds of Singapore
by the Bird Society of Singapore
Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus
Family: Skimmers, Noddies, Terns, and Gulls · Status: Vagrant · Size: 42–46 cm · Conservation: Least Concern
Breeds in Central Asia and Northern China north and east of the Pamir mountain range. Winters to the coastal regions in the Indian subcontinent, southern China, mainland Southeast Asia, and Sumatra.
Larger, bulkier, and thicker-billed than Black-headed Gull, with pale eyes, but otherwise very similar looking. Non-breeding adult is mostly white all over the head and body, with prominent black ear spot and indistinct black markings around and above the eye. On the upperside, back, mantle, and inner flight feathers are grey. Eyes are dark and the bill is red with a black tip. In flight, outer primaries appear largely black with white bases, and only small patches of white near the tips of the outer two primaries, lacking the prominent white flash on the leading edge of Black-headed Gull. When visible, feet are webbed and dark red. Breeding adult has dark brown hood with a white eyering that is broken at the front and thicker towards the back. First-winter bird resembles non-breeding adult but has duller bill and legs, flight feathers are black at the tips forming a broad dark trailing edge, uppperwing coverts are dark brown with broad white edges giving a scaly appearance, and shows a black band at the tip of the tail. Importantly, juvenile birds can have black eyes.
During non-breeding season, found at coastal habitats including mudflats, also appears at reservoirs.
Rests on mudflats with Black-headed Gull, terns. and other shorebirds. Often rests buoyantly on the sea.