Identification
Handsome hooded gull of southern South America and Falklands. Commonest in coastal areas, but also ranges inland to lakes, rivers, dumps, and fields. Extensively to wholly white wingtip is distinctive in all plumages. Breeding adult has dark brown hood (often looks black at a distance) with a white eyering. Immature and nonbreeding plumages have a distinct dark spot on cheeks. Compare with Gray-hooded Gull, which occurs with Brown-hooded in Argentina and the larger Andean Gull, which overlaps locally in central Chile.