Black-headed Gull (3 Viewers)

[01101001]

Can it show a thin black outer border to the primaries and not the usual black patch towards the outer end of the wing? Mostly asking to share my suspicions of a possible Bonaparte's Gull. No photos or anything more serious, but it stood out, so I looked up Focus On: how to separate Bonaparte's and Black-headed Gulls, and here I am. I'll try to take some photos tomorrow.

 

[Butty]

thin black outer border to the primaries

I'm not clear precisely what that means, but... if you suspect Bonaparte's gull (any age), look primarily at the underside of the primaries and the bill size; any other features (outside of breeding plumage) will just leave you head-scratching.

 

[Bewick]

From personal experience, bill size/colour, leg colour, size (noticeably smaller than BHG) and darkness/size of the ear spot are the best ways to go about identifying one. Honestly, separating them from black headed gulls seems much harder in theory than in practice. Sadly I deleted my comparison pic that had both species in one frame.

 

[pianoman]

On the few occasions I've seen Bonaparte's it is the wing pattern while flying that is the first thing that has drawn my attention. the narrower black band and the overall neater appearance of these markings - the difference is subtle but still noticeable. When with BHG for comparison, the smaller size and more dainty behaviour is noticeable too.

 

[01101001]

Yes, I meant the underside. A lady was feeding gulls and pigeons, and I stopped to watch the spectacle* of the gulls circling above.

Actually, I first saw what looked like a BHG (slender wing proportions + company of definite BHGs) with an unusually large amount of white in the underwing (but still some black) around 8-9 January at the same spot, and it upset my confidence about knowing what to expect from a BHG after I spent a significant part of the summer watching them alongside terns at the riverfront.

Yet, both now and then, I seem to have seen two such birds in the flock, which drives the probability down.

EDIT: *(and brush up my ID skills)

EDIT 2: Grr, somewhat enervating, this, and I've still got some stuff to do today. Guess I shouldn't hold my breath for it too much.

 

[01101001]

I'll use this thread for all my weird gull observations 🥳

weird thin calls, smallish, black spot on head (probably?); hopefully, all this refers of the same bird; at least, I know it's an immature by the black tail band

EDIT: Any chance for a 1st winter Med Gull, maybe??

 

[Rotherbirder]

Definitely not a BHG; looks like a Med Gull to me?

RB

 

[01101001]

It would require that I fill in an eBird rarity report (they are mostly summer breeders here), although wintering individuals in smaller numbers are not unheard of either.

 

[Xenospiza]

I think it's a Common Gull, just look at how dark grey that back is.

 

[01101001]

I thought about it as well, though the extent of black on the upper- and underwing made me think of something else (I saw the black spot behind the eye twice, but--granted--it might've possibly been on another individual).

 

[01101001]

Also, the first picture under the first post has a Common Gull alongside in the same lighting conditions, and it seems darker than the bird in question?

EDIT: Also, it looks a bit lank and angular for a Common Gull, FWIW (hope this photo is of the same individual as well).

 

[lou salomon]

Trust Xenospiza, it is a Common Gull.

 

[Butty]

I'll use this thread for all my weird gull observations

As a point of principle - and in this specific case - I really don't think you should, and I should like to discourage this. It just confuses things - much more helpful (to all) to have started a new thread. The OP's bird was clearly a black-headed-gull-type observation, and yours clearly isn't - so there isn't even a significant ID link.

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Hello,

it was a difficult bird for me too, so thanks Xenospiza and Lou from me too!
I just want to add, that although difficult to be sure due to quality and artefacts, picture 2 in post 6 seems to show a broad and distinct blackish boarder to the axillaries. This is lacking in most (at least) 1st cycle Med Gulls, please compare:

https://flic.kr/p/2pwL3kv

(05.09.2016, Prenzlau, NE-Germany)
Here is one with an indication of it Club300 Germany

 

[01101001]

As a point of principle - and in this specific case - I really don't think you should, and I should like to discourage this. It just confuses things - much more helpful (to all) to have started a new thread. The OP's bird was clearly a black-headed-gull-type observation, and yours clearly isn't - so there isn't even a significant ID link.

I'm the OP, and I thought I'd better not start a new thread every time I notice something unusual, but will follow your advice if that's the consensus.

Yes, also the call was quite unlike the 'eh' that would be expected from a Mediterranean Gull.

 

[Butty]

I thought I'd better not start a new thread every time I notice something unusual

I think you should - that's how this forum works. Things can get terribly confused otherwise. (But I've said that already, and I do disapprove of people repeating themselves 😳)

 

[01101001]

Fair enough, I will (and, yes, I did change the avatar from Hooded Crow to Blackbird in the meantime).

 

[Rotherbirder]

I'm the OP, and I thought I'd better not start a new thread every time I notice something unusual, but will follow your advice if that's the consensus.

Yes, also the call was quite unlike the 'eh' that would be expected from a Mediterranean Gull.

Details of the vocalisations would have been useful from the start!

RB

 

[01101001]

Yes, I should've said it more clearly (I held out hope that the 》weird thin call《 could've somehow been of a Med Gull). Makes me think it was a strange string on many levels on my part. Much better for Common Gull indeed.

 

[lou salomon]

1st cycle med gull is more contrasting in all respects. not that there is much visible of it in these blurry pics, it's much more a feeling and the fact that the dark primaries don't look black enough for med gull. look at this comparison shot I just found on te net: https://birds-in-flight.net/wp-cont...0091011_medgull-1W_mewgull-1W_d_north-sea.jpg