From Opus

3rd winter bird
Photo by papasula
Nimbus Fish Hatchery, Folsom, California

Larus thayeri

[edit] Identification

A four year gull.

About the size of an American Herring Gull or slightly smaller. Usually with a smaller bill, smaller, more rounded head, and slightly plumper body than Herring Gull. Eyes are dark during breeding, but may lighten during the winter when dull honey-colored eyes with variable dark flecking is more typical. ~10% can have clear yellow irises. Leg color bright pink, brighter on average then Herring Gull. Mantle colour is pale gray, slightly darker than American Herring Gull and clearly darker than Kumlien's Gull.

[edit] Distribution

North America; breeds in the Arctic islands of Canada and winters on the Pacific coast, from southern Alaska to the Gulf of California. Rare to the Great Lakes and along the northern Atlantic Coast.

Photo by HokkaidoStu
Hakodate Hokkaido, Japan, November 2007

[edit] Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species^[1].

[edit] Habitat

Breeds on tundra.

[edit] Behaviour

[edit] Breeding

They lay 3 bluish or greenish eggs in nests lined with grass, moss or lichens.

[edit] References

1. Clements, JF. 2011. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to August 2011. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
2. Wikipedia

• List of references

[edit] External Links