Herrings (1 Viewer)

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GeorgeMac

Sutherland

• Sep 16, 2020

• #1

Assumed these were all herrings, but working on the photo noticed the bird on the right had a dark spot rather than a red spot on its bill. Legs look darker as well, but that's probably just the light. I still think it's a herring.

 

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G

GeorgeMac

Sutherland

• Sep 16, 2020

• #2

Hmmm, just noticed the bills seem to be different.

 

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A

Alexander Stöhr

Well-known member

• Sep 16, 2020

• #3

Hello George,
you are right with Herring Gull, a dark band or a dark spot (=broken band) is a sign of immature birds, but as I learned from literature, its not a foolproof one, as it can be present in "adults", that are more than 4 years old, when most large gull-species should have attained "full adult plumage".

 

G

GeorgeMac

Sutherland

• Sep 17, 2020

• #4

Thanks Alexander. So much to learn with gulls and I'm only scratching the surface of 3 or 4 species.