Great Black backed or Herring Gull, Cape May New Jersey (1 Viewer)

[piclady3]

Not sure if this juvie is a Great Black backed or Herring gull both adults were in the area
Seen in Cape May New Jersey
Thank for your help!

 

[KC Foggin]

I am leaning towards the Great Black-backed Gull for this one.

 

[piclady3]

Thank you!

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Hello,

just a comment to bump up this bird, hoping for more comments.

First: can you give date, please (assuming recently)?

Your bird doesnt look like a worn first cycle Great-black backed Gull, that I know from Europe:

• bill is too weak
• head seems too rounded and too small in relation to the body
• quite extensive uniform dark brownish coverts and scapulars arent good for immature GBBG
• most immature GBBG have whiter underparts and heads than your bird

But better wait for others to jump in. Thanks from me, too!

 

[piclady3]

Taken Oct 7 2022
Thanks for info, greatly appreciated

 

[THE_FERN]

Surely too dark for great black-backed. The darkness is one of the things which marks American herring out from European so it's that for me

 

[piclady3]

Thank you

 

[lou salomon]

2nd cycle (in this case = 2cy) American Herring Gull, one smooth "patterned" variant, or let's say plain/unpatterned. GBBG always has more white in coverts, tertials, head and neck etc. and bill is not heavy and angular enough.

 

[piclady3]

Thank you!