Glaucous Gull (Larus hyperboreus)

This rare but regular winter visitor to California is an immature showing the distinct pink-based bill with contrasting black tip. It can be difficult to age immature Glaucous Gulls due to variation in molt and appearance. The dark eye and worn pointed primaries indicate that this is a HY (Hatching Year) bird. Four subspecies are usually recognized. This one is very pale, almost all white, and quite large suggesting the possibility of "L. h. pallidissimus" which breeds in extreme Western Alaska and the Russian Far East.