This common gull is also called the black-headed gull because of the colour of the feathers on its head in the spring. Its back is grey, while its body is white. Its beak and its legs are red. It is noisy and quarrelsome and lives in flocks of different size. It is omnivorous. It is present in waste and garbage dumps.
They are easily recognizable because of the chocolate brown colour of the feathers of their head in the spring which disappears in the winter leaving only a small dark well-shaped spot behind the eye.
Genders are similar. This species overwinters in the province of Varese and its distribution in the several humid areas is not homogeneous.
In the urban areas they have unfortunately learnt to feed on the bread and the cakes people offer them.
Common gulls are clever predators and often carry out the strategy of the "group fishing": fish are therefore more vulnerable and are more likely to be caught.

Bibliografia

Svensson L., Mullarney K. & Zetterstrom D., 2013 - Guida degli uccelli d'Europa Nord Africa e Vicino Oriente. Ricca Editore.
Saporetti F. & Carabella M., 2012 – Uccelli Acquatici Svernanti – 25 anni di dati in Provincia di Varese. Quaderno 1 del Gruppo Insubrico di Ornitologia. Provincia di Varese, Settore Politiche per l'Agricoltura e Gestione Faunistica e LIPU.
Aletti R. & Carabella M., 2015 – Check-list degli Uccelli della Provincia di Varese – Lista completa commentata e illustrata. Quaderno 2 del Gruppo Insubrico di Ornitologia.