Posted by Michael Lotito on February 21, 2011 at 12:16 PM
At first I was thinking 1st year hearing gull but it was much lighter than others I photographed that day. Then I thought maybe glaucous or island 2nd yr.
It was taken at and ocean inlet in Long Island, NY.
Posted by Luke Ormand on February 21, 2011 at 4:28 PM
I don't think it's either an Iceland or Glacous as they lack the dark tail feathers... looks like a an immature herring (3rd year) with an unusually pale bill
Posted by Brian Gatlin on February 21, 2011 at 5:12 PM
Mike, I'm not a gull expert, but I think this is just a very washed out Herring Gull. But not a 3rd winter--it looks to be a first winter bird, as I don't see any replaced feathers in the mantle--a second winter bird should be showing at least some gray in the mantle, and a third winter would show lots. besides the pale eye and pink legs, the head shape and bill look like what I associate with Herring Gull, and on an Iceland or Glaucous the primaries would be much paler.
Posted by Jim DeWitt on February 22, 2011 at 3:11 PM
First winter Herring Gull, one of the eastern subspecies.
Discussion
3 repliesIt was taken at and ocean inlet in Long Island, NY.