Brown-headed gull

{{Short description|Species of bird}}

{{Speciesbox

| image = Brown-headed Gull. in breeding plumage.jpg

| image_alt = Brown-headed Gull at Pangong Tso Ladakh

| image2 = Brown-headed Gull (2).jpg

| status = LC

| status_system = IUCN3.1

| status_ref = {{cite iucn |author=BirdLife International |title=Larus brunnicephalus |date=2018 |page=e.T22694384A132547071 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22694384A132547071.en |access-date=15 February 2022}}

| genus = Chroicocephalus

| species = brunnicephalus

| authority = (Jerdon, 1840)
west coast of Indian Peninsula

| synonyms = Larus brunnicephalus

}}

The brown-headed gull (Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus) is a small gull which breeds in the high plateaus of central Asia from Tajikistan to Ordos in Inner Mongolia. It is migratory, wintering on the coasts and large inland lakes of the Indian Subcontinent. As is the case with many gulls, was traditionally placed in the genus Larus.

This gull breeds in colonies in large reedbeds or marshes, or on islands in lakes, nesting on the ground. Like most gulls, it is highly gregarious in winter, both when feeding or in evening roosts. It is not a pelagic species, and is rarely seen at sea far from coasts.

This is a bold and opportunist feeder, which will scavenge in towns or take invertebrates in ploughed fields with equal relish.

The brown-headed gull is slightly larger than black-headed gull. The summer adult has a pale brown head, lighter than that of black-headed, a pale grey body, and red bill and legs. The black tips to the primary wing feathers have conspicuous white "mirrors". The underwing is grey with black flight feathers. The brown hood is lost in winter, leaving just dark vertical streaks.

This bird takes two years to reach maturity. First year birds have a black terminal tail band, more dark areas in the wings, and, in summer, a less homogeneous hood.

This is a noisy species, especially at colonies.

Brown-headed Gulls.jpg|Brown-headed gull in flight - Ezhimala, Kerala

Brown-headed Gull, Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus.jpg|Brown-headed gull in flight - Bang Pu, Samut Prakan, Thailand

Brown-headed Gull at Pangong Tso 1.jpg|At Pangong Tso

Brown-headed Gull at Pangong Tso 2.jpg|At Pangong Tso

Brown-headed Gull at Pangong Tso 6.jpg|At Pangong Tso

Brown-headed Gull & Black-headed Gull, Gujarat.jpg|In Western India

Brown Headed Gull With Fish Navi Mumbai.jpg|Brown-headed Gull fishing in Navi Mumbai, India

Immature Brown-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus).png|Immature Brown-headed Gull in flight