A small, graceful gull with dark eyes, long wings, and a rounded head. In breeding plumage the head is white and the bill may show a faint, smudged ring; outside the breeding season the head gains light brown markings. Younger birds are browner overall and have pink bills tipped in black. Found across much of Eurasia, it nests in wetlands, meadows, and along beaches, and in winter frequents watersides and fields, often near the coast. It is less inclined to gather in large urban areas than many other gull species.