Black-headed Gull. Borisov Ponds.Moscow.Moskvorechye-Saburovo District. Royalty-Free Stock Photo

The common gull or river gull Latin: Chroicocephalus ridibundus is a species of small bird in the genus Chroicocephalus of the gull family Laridae that breeds over a wide area of Eurasia, as well as on the Atlantic coast of Canada. It is common on the territory of Russia — it can often be seen in the summer on rivers and lakes, where it circles near passing ships in search of fertilizing.The lake gull is easily distinguished from other species. Among the gulls found on the territory of European Russia, a similar color of the wings occurs only in the sea dove, which differs in a longer bill and a lighter head even in summer. The lesser gull is clearly smaller in size, adult birds in summer have a black rather than brown `cap`, as well as a dark underside of the wing and rounded wing tips without black spots at the end.