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Gull ID (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter icansprint
- Start date
Michael Frankis
conehead
American race (smithsonianus) Herring Gull
Michael
Michael
Jane Turner
Well-known member
Looks likely. Where was it taken?
Jane Turner
Well-known member
Of course contentiously, if this bird was in the UK, then according to BBRC guidelines its probably not acceptable as proven smithsonianus.
Michael Frankis
conehead
Very true!Jane Turner said:
A large part of my suggesting smithsonianus was based on the poster being in Maine . . .
Michael
Jane Turner
Well-known member
The dusky underparts contrasting with a paler head look good for smithsonianus and its a big bugger.
I can't see enough of the tail, though there is somehing suspiciously pale in there. Where is Harry when we need him?
I can't see enough of the tail, though there is somehing suspiciously pale in there. Where is Harry when we need him?
icansprint
Well-known member
The gull picture was taken in Freeport, Maine on the coast. My first thought was Herring Gull but my books say the legs should be pinkish. I have 4 pictures of this gull and all show brownish legs with no sign of pink. Also my books say the Herring Gull should have yellow eyes. I know my picture is not the best but it would clearly show yellow eyes if they were there. I just don’t have enough research info on immature gulls to give this one a name. However, I will not claim to know even a 100th as much as the experts here.
Don’t bee fooled by the white tip on the bill. I think it is caused by the light shinning on the very small light colored tip.
Bill
Don’t bee fooled by the white tip on the bill. I think it is caused by the light shinning on the very small light colored tip.
Bill
Last edited:
Michael Frankis
conehead
Hi Bill,
Thanks for the details; the leg colour (muddy grey-pink on immatures, gets gradually brighter pink as they grow older) and eye colour (dark for their first 2 years or so) is OK for Herring - they only get yellow eyes when around 3 years old (this applies to all gulls that have yellow eyes as adults!)
Michael
Thanks for the details; the leg colour (muddy grey-pink on immatures, gets gradually brighter pink as they grow older) and eye colour (dark for their first 2 years or so) is OK for Herring - they only get yellow eyes when around 3 years old (this applies to all gulls that have yellow eyes as adults!)
Michael
icansprint
Well-known member
Thanks Michael, I thought that might be the case but my books are very limited.
I would also like to thank everyone that contributed to this thread.
Bill
I would also like to thank everyone that contributed to this thread.
Bill
Hi all,
A classic juv/1st-w smithsonianus Herring Gull(re remarks about acceptability in the UK,I would say that such a bird as this would be accepted here in Ireland).
Of course,this SHOULD be smithsonianus based on location alone,but the following features point in that direction:
1)Relatively uniform chocolate brown underparts(slightly "velvety" look to them!)
2)dark greater coverts(those of European races of Herring Gull have noticable pale internal markings)
3)dark tertials,without the pale notches/bars shown by(most?) European birds
4)still a good few juv.mantle feathers retained
5)big awkward bulky structure
Harry H
A classic juv/1st-w smithsonianus Herring Gull(re remarks about acceptability in the UK,I would say that such a bird as this would be accepted here in Ireland).
Of course,this SHOULD be smithsonianus based on location alone,but the following features point in that direction:
1)Relatively uniform chocolate brown underparts(slightly "velvety" look to them!)
2)dark greater coverts(those of European races of Herring Gull have noticable pale internal markings)
3)dark tertials,without the pale notches/bars shown by(most?) European birds
4)still a good few juv.mantle feathers retained
5)big awkward bulky structure
Harry H
