Great Black-headed Gull

  • Great Black-headed Gull (Winter)
    Great Black-headed Gull (Winter) (Pekka Fagel)
  • Great Black-headed Gull
    Great Black-headed Gull (Pekka Fagel)
  • Great Black-headed Gull (Breeding plumage)
    Great Black-headed Gull (Breeding plumage) (Mike Pope)
  • Great Black-headed Gull (Immature winter with Slender-billed Gulls)
    Great Black-headed Gull (Immature winter with Slender-billed Gulls) (Mike Pope)
Great Black-headed Gull (Winter)
Great Black-headed Gull
Great Black-headed Gull (Breeding plumage)
Great Black-headed Gull (Immature winter with Slender-billed Gulls)
Recordings 
Scientific Name 
Larus ichthyaetus
Arabic Name 
نورس السمك
Kuwaiti name 
جنة
Family 
Gulls - Terns - Skimmers
Width 
170.0 cm
Length 
61.0 cm
Least Concern
Kuwait Specialty

In Kuwait

Winter
Migrant
Frequent
Non-breeder

Information

Common winter visitor; uncommon passage migrant. A large gull breeding in Central Asia, often gathering in bays and harbours such as at Failaka, Sharq and Fahaheel in winter. Up to 541 recorded at Doha, Kuwait Bay, in mid March 2001.
Where in Kuwait 
Often recorded off-shore, but also along the coastline and fishing harbours of Sharq and Fahaheel, normally in singles or very small groups.
In the world 
It has an extremely large range with a decreasing population and is is fully migratory, although many immatures over-summer in the winter range. After breeding the species shifts to fish-rich sea-coasts, wintering on beaches and in harbours. It is One of the largest of all gulls and has bold plumage
Local threats 
Marine oil spills and pollution