Another 1st cycle gull ID question, Riverside, CA, USA (1 Viewer)

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DarkFireFalcon

Well-known member

• Nov 18, 2014

• #1

Here's another bird I struggled with. No spread wing shots of this one, unfortunately. This was a beefier bird, appeared larger than the nearby California Gulls. My impression was of an American Herring Gull, but I'd like to confirm that. Specifically, I'm wondering how I'd be able to pick out a Lesser Black-backed Gull, which have begun showing up in my area in very small numbers in recent years. All 5 shots are of the same bird.

Thanks

 

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Nutcracker

Stop Brexit!

• Nov 19, 2014

• #2

Pass on this one, or - given that heavy bill - perhaps Western?

For first-winter LBB, some tips to look out for:
* solidly dark tertials with just a narrow white fringe, no notching / barring
* smaller, slenderer bill than this brute
* long primary extension (roughly tertial tip to tail tip = tail tip to primary tip)
* black bill, no paler base
* underparts slightly mottled, less plain uniform colour than most N American first-winter gulls

 

D

DarkFireFalcon

Well-known member

• Nov 19, 2014

• #3

Thanks Nutcracker.

I had considered Western Gull, but the pattern on the tertials seemed odd for that species, and despite the heavy bill, it seemed a bit small for a Western Gull, only slightly larger than the other Herring Gulls it was near.

 

Nutcracker

Stop Brexit!

• Nov 19, 2014

• #4

Pic I took a while back, adult + juv LBB

 

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DarkFireFalcon

Well-known member

• Dec 3, 2014

• #5

I'm going to bump this one back up. Any larophiles out there care to chime in?

 

NNJFB-Rob

Well-known member

• Dec 4, 2014

• #6

Looks like Western. Being in Riverside… likely Herring.

 

lou salomon

the birdonist

• Dec 4, 2014

• #7

surely not a (pure) western gull. looks best for american herring gull, but not the most typical ind., western type smithsonianus.