Surfbirds Share A Photo

Black-headed Gull , Santa Cruz, California, Aptos, 11 January 2024

eBird
Black-headed Gull ranges across Eurasia but is replaced in North America by the similar Bonaparte's Gull. A rarity in California, this is the first record for Santa Cruz County. First noted 27 December 2023 at the mouth of Aptos Creek by David Sidle. Today we found it north of the creek at Seacliff State Beach. It is an adult in winter plumage lacking the dark hood. Formerly included in the genus Larus, it bears a strong resemblance to Brown-hooded Gull (Chroicocephalus maculipennis) of the South American southern coasts. The two were considered conspecific by Hellmayr. Brown-hooded has a slightly darker mantle, narrower dark subterminal band on its primaries, more dark at the bases of its outermost primaries, and distinct white primary tips.

© Joe Morlan

Black-headed Gull
array (
  'settings' => 
  array (
    'base_share_photo_url' => 'http://www.surfbirds.com/gallery/share_photo.php?imgname=',
    'fb_og_site_name' => 'Surfbirds.com',
    'twitter_data_text' => 'Surfbirds.com',
    'fb_og_description' => 'Black-headed Gull, Santa Cruz, California, Aptos, 11 January 2024',
    'fb_og_image' => 'http://01271bfede0954168758-da1041207dde8e2d0a75af6fbedebedf.r83.cf1.rackcdn.com/20240112231723783.jpg',
    'fb_share_url' => 'http://www.surfbirds.com/gallery/share_photo.php?imgname=20240112231723783.jpg',
    'pinterest_url' => 'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.surfbirds.com%2Fgallery%2Fshare_photo.php%3Fimgname%3D20240112231723783.jpg',
    'pinterest_media' => 'http%3A%2F%2F01271bfede0954168758-da1041207dde8e2d0a75af6fbedebedf.r83.cf1.rackcdn.com%2F20240112231723783.jpg',
    'pinterest_description' => 'Black-headed+Gull%2C+Santa+Cruz%2C+California%2C+Aptos%2C+11+January+2024+%26copy%3B+Joe+Morlan',
    'pic_dir_url' => 'http://01271bfede0954168758-da1041207dde8e2d0a75af6fbedebedf.r83.cf1.rackcdn.com/',
    'web_storage_path' => 'http://01271bfede0954168758-da1041207dde8e2d0a75af6fbedebedf.r83.cf1.rackcdn.com/',
    'avatar_dir_url' => 'http://www.surfbirds.com/media/user_photo/',
  ),
  'img' => 
  array (
    'id' => '162771',
    'user_id' => '1824',
    'chapter_id' => '10',
    'creation_date' => '2024-01-12 23:17:23',
    'species' => 'Black-headed Gull',
    'country' => 'Santa Cruz, California',
    'location' => 'Aptos',
    'photo_date' => '11 January 2024',
    'caption' => 'eBird

Black-headed Gull ranges across Eurasia but is replaced in North America by the similar Bonaparte\'s Gull. A rarity in California, this is the first record for Santa Cruz County. First noted 27 December 2023 at the mouth of Aptos Creek by David Sidle. Today we found it north of the creek at Seacliff State Beach. It is an adult in winter plumage lacking the dark hood. Formerly included in the genus Larus, it bears a strong resemblance to Brown-hooded Gull (Chroicocephalus maculipennis) of the South American southern coasts. The two were considered conspecific by Hellmayr. Brown-hooded has a slightly darker mantle, narrower dark subterminal band on its primaries, more dark at the bases of its outermost primaries, and distinct white primary tips.', 'imgname' => '20240112231723783.jpg', 'send_as_postcard' => '1', 'can_others_email_you' => '1', 'allow_copy' => '1', ), 'image_info' => false, 'user' => array ( 'email' => 'joemorlan@yahoo.com', 'fullname' => 'Joe Morlan', 'display_email' => '0', 'web' => 'http://fog.ccsf.edu/~jmorlan/', 'biography' => '', 'professionality' => '0', 'country' => 'USA', 'avatar_name' => NULL, ), )