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Non-adult Iceland gull id help pls (1 Viewer)

bhutjoe

Well-known member
The attached photos 484.jpg and 488.jpg show a non-adult gull on the harbour in Grundarfjörður, western Iceland at about 7 am on August 17, between what I think are Glaucous Gulls with a Greater Black Backed Gull at the end. Based on size I think it must be one of Lesser Black Backed, Common or Icelandic. I think the bill colour (and maybe leg colour) exclude Lesser Black Backed, and the overall darkness exclude Icelandic. Or is its apparent small size only because it is hunched down in the rain and it is in fact a young Glaucous Gull? I included photo 489.jpg as this young gull looks similar yet seems to be more of the size of the Glaucous Gulls. Can this be safely ID'd as a Common Gull or is it something else or just not identifiable from these photos please?
Thank you in advance for your comments and assistance.
steve
 

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Looks like a Viking Gull to me (hybrid argentatus x hyperboreus) with those barred scapulars and wing coverts. Also looks to have a well-developed tail band. Such hybrids between Herring and Glaucous Gulls are common in Iceland.
 
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Thank you Steve for that information and suggestion on how to id them. I will be in Reykjavik again in a couple of days and will see if I can apply this new (to me) knowledge.
much appreciated
steve
 
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