Mediterranean Gull
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Larus melanocephalus
Scarce Summer visitors with 600 breeding pairs in Britain plus 5-10 pairs in Ireland.
Common in Winter.
Common & widespread in the Mediterranean region.
Breeding Adults are a distinctive white gull, with a very pale grey mantle and wings with white primary feathers without black tips.
The black hood extends down the nape and shows distinct white eye crescents.
The sharp-tipped, parallel sided, dark red bill has a black subterminal band.
Non Breeding Adults are similar but the hood is reduced to an extensive dusky "bandit" mask through the eye.
Juveniles are browner than Adults
1st Winters have a black terminal tail band and more black areas in the upperwings, but have pale underwings..
They have a nasal call.