Brown-headed Gull

Scientific Name: Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus
Malay Name: Camar-Topeng Asia
Chinese Name: 棕头鸥

Range:
Found from central Asia to northern China, wintering to Indian subcontinent, southern China and mainland Southeast Asia

Taxonomy:
Monotypic.

Size: 42-46 cm

Identification:
Breeding/non-breeding adult and juvenile resembles Black-headed Gull but is larger, bulkier and thicker-billed with pale eyes. In flight, shows distinctive broadly black-tipped outer primaries.

Similar looking species: Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull

Habitat: Mudflat and other coastal habitats.

Behaviour/Ecology: Rests on mudflats with Black-headed Gull as well as terns and other shorebirds. Often rests buoyantly on the sea.

Local Status: Very rare vagrant

Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2018)

Past accepted records in our database:

Migrant bar chart (see more bar charts):

Non-breeding Brown-headed Gull at Bang Poo, Thailand. Photo Credit: Eric Tan

Non-breeding Brown-headed Gull at Bang Poo, Thailand. Photo Credit: Eric Tan