Spokane County, WA Gull Help #2 (1 Viewer)

[mselle]

Is this a Lesser Black-backed Gull? Again, as with the bird in my last post, this would be exceptionally rare for Spokane County, WA. I saw this bird at 47.884860, -117.683185. Any help would be much appreciated. Thank you!

 

[aeshna5]

No- a bit of a clue in the name! This has pale grey upperparts so can't possibly be a LBB Gull. Not sure what it is though.

 

[ryckfour]

Ring-billed Gull. Definitely worth excluded the common options before considering rarities (I know, I’ve made some spectacular mistakes myself).

 

[mselle]

No- a bit of a clue in the name! This has pale grey upperparts so can't possibly be a LBB Gull. Not sure what it is though.

Thank you.

 

[mselle]

Ring-billed Gull. Definitely worth excluded the common options before considering rarities (I know, I’ve made some spectacular mistakes myself).

Thank you. The black-tipped bill rather than ringed bill had me stumped.

 

[aeshna5]

Ring-billed Gull. Definitely worth excluded the common options before considering rarities (I know, I’ve made some spectacular mistakes myself).

Guess it is this but I've never seen one with a dark bill tip which is why I didn't recognise it? Maybe soil on it?

 

[ryckfour]

I was unsure too - should probably have included a ‘?’

Bill tip is darker in sub adult plumages, could this be a vestige of an earlier plumage?

 

[mselle]

I was unsure too - should probably have included a ‘?’

Bill tip is darker in sub adult plumages, could this be a vestige of an earlier plumage?

It might be an aberration or dirt on the bill tip. Others have suggested the latter, and that makes sense to me. Thanks!