In the early 20th century, this species began expanding its range westward from Europe and Asia to Iceland, then Greenland. The first documented nest was found in Newfoundland in 1977. North America is also an overwintering destination for a small number of migrants from Iceland and Greenland. Monitoring data are insufficient to reliably assess the population status of this species in Canada relative to 1970. Less than 1% of the world’s population nests or overwinters in North America. This species has been identified as a priority for conservation and/or stewardship in one or more Bird Conservation Region Strategies in Canada.
In Canada, the expansion or even persistence of Black-headed Gull breeding colonies may be restricted by the growth of nearby colonies of other larger gull species (Robertson 2002a). Globally, population decreases at some breeding sites have been attributed to changes in food availability, increased competition from other gull species, and changes in agricultural practices, which reduces scavenging opportunities (Olsen and Larsson 2004).
Environment and Climate Change Canada and partners have developed Bird Conservation Region Strategies in each of Canada’s Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs). In these strategies, selected species are identified as priorities for one or more of the following reasons:
Select any of the sub-regions below to view the BCR strategy for additional details.
