I cannot exactly place this. I'm leaning toward third winter Herring Gull, but am not at all sure.
Posted by bill meikle on December 7, 2009 at 2:42 PM
Could be Phil, gulls are hard to identify sometimes.
Posted by Jim DeWitt on December 8, 2009 at 12:59 AM
Sub-adult gulls are tough. It makes them fun, but the multiple plumages and tendency to hybridize can make it a challenge.
We can rule out third year Herring Gull; they have a pale eye, and the base of the bill is flesh/pink with the black tip. The head is too delicate as well, which rules out other subadult Herring Gulls.
My vote would be for first winter Ring-billed Gull, just starting to moult to Second Summer plumage. The yellow bill base, the very dark eye, the brown coverts and "dirty" chest and belly argue for Ring-billed. The legs are the right color of pink going to yellow as well. But even for a gull, sub-adult Ring-billeds are pretty variable.
I'll be interested in what others say...
Posted by Drew Fulton on December 8, 2009 at 9:38 AM
I'm with Jim. My first instinct was Ring-billed Gull when it first loaded. I've now studied it more and Jim's got all the field marks pointed out. Looks pretty close to the 1st winter bird illustrated in Sibley.
Discussion
4 repliesWe can rule out third year Herring Gull; they have a pale eye, and the base of the bill is flesh/pink with the black tip. The head is too delicate as well, which rules out other subadult Herring Gulls.
My vote would be for first winter Ring-billed Gull, just starting to moult to Second Summer plumage. The yellow bill base, the very dark eye, the brown coverts and "dirty" chest and belly argue for Ring-billed. The legs are the right color of pink going to yellow as well. But even for a gull, sub-adult Ring-billeds are pretty variable.
I'll be interested in what others say...
Drew