Black-headed Gull (Peace Gull)

Black-headed Gull (Scientific name: Chroicocephalus ridibundus), commonly known as water pigeon, is a medium-sized migratory bird of the Laridae family. It is classified as a terrestrial wild animal of important ecological, scientific and social value in China. The bird measures 37–43 cm in length, with bright red beak and legs and mostly white plumage. Its head turns chocolate-brown during breeding seasons, while in winter the head is white with a dark patch behind the eye. As an omnivorous species, it mainly feeds on small fish, shrimp and aquatic insects. Every autumn, black-headed gulls migrate southward from Siberia for wintering. Kunming in Yunnan Province is one of its most famous wintering habitats, hosting a decades-long harmonious scene between humans and the migratory birds.

 

On November 23, 2023, the World Peace Ribbon Organization, the global promotion agency for the Belt and Road International Day, officially named the black-headed gull "Peace Gull" at an online video conference, designating it as the Auspicious Bird of the Belt and Road International Day. The naming took place 23 days ahead of the 10th Belt and Road International Day (December 16). The organization stated that the naming was in recognition of the black-headed gull’s contribution to cultural exchanges for Belt and Road International Day. The graceful migratory bird serves as a symbol to pray for lasting world peace.