Seattle Washington Gulls (1 Viewer)

[sirijay]

These gulls were photographed yesterday at a park in Seattle.
Appreciate help with ID.
Thank you.

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Hello first one is a Mew Gull Larus Brachyrhynchus, please note rounded friendly looking head with small bill, giving this bird a typicall "Commo Gull" impression.

 

[Nutcracker]

Hello first one is a Mew Gull Larus Brachyrhynchus, please note rounded friendly looking head with small bill, giving this bird a typicall "Commo Gull" impression.

Agree, though still Larus canus brachyrhynchus in all the official lists (though long overdue for a split!).


#2 I reckon American Herring Gull, and #3 Glaucous-winged Gull (probably 4th winter, not quite full adult with that black mark on the bill).

 

[HeadWest]

2 and 3 are both “Olympic gulls,” western x glaucous-winged hybrids. In both cases, the primary tips are intermediate, though much closer to black in #2. A herring gull would have a pale eye, more slender bill, and a less blocky head shape.

 

[dwatsonbirder]

2 and 3 are both “Olympic gulls,” western x glaucous-winged hybrids. In both cases, the primary tips are intermediate, though much closer to black in #2. A herring gull would have a pale eye, more slender bill, and a less blocky head shape.

I agree, in my experience one of the commoner LWHG in the Pacific NW!

 

[sirijay]

Thanks much.
Is there "quick" way distinguish between the Olympic and Glaucous ? Just wondering.

 

[lou salomon]

(adult) olympic = black(ish) wing tips, (adult) glaucous = white wingtips. then (adult) glaucous-winged = grey wingtips (concolorous with mantle).
the main problem with olympic gulls is to separate them from cook inlet gulls (smithsonianus x glaucescens), the other relative common hybrid in the pacific northwest.

 

[Ilissa73180]

Agree, though still Larus canus brachyrhynchus in all the official lists (though long overdue for a split!).


#2 I reckon American Herring Gull, and #3 Glaucous-winged Gull (probably 4th winter, not quite full adult with that black mark on the bill).

i agree

 

[HeadWest]

Thanks much.
Is there "quick" way distinguish between the Olympic and Glaucous ? Just wondering.

Assuming you mean "glaucous-winged," (glaucous is a different gull species):

Glaucous-winged gulls have gray wing tips, the same or similar to the color of their mantlle (upper back). There is variation here, with some having slightly darker wingtips, but it should mostly match the back.

Olympic gulls have wing tips that are intermediate between gray and black. Your first olympic gull has almost black tips with slight grayish coloration, while the second is much closer to gray, but clearly darker than pure gray.

Additionally, Olympic gulls usually have a mantle shade that is in between western (dark) and glaucous-winged (light). This is also variable, and shouldn't be used alone to make the Olympic determination. Finally, adult western gulls usually have unstreaked heads, while glaucous-winged and olympics usually are quite marked up.

 

[sirijay]

Thank you all....very helpful.