Thayer's Gull? SoCal (1 Viewer)

[rwblackbird57]

Hello all,

Saw this gull today in Oceanside, CA and it looks like a good candidate for a Thayer's to me. If not, would love to know what it is. Thanks for any help!

 

[Tiraya]

It isn't as delicate looking as I'd expect from Thayer's, particularly with that bill, so I'd think (American) herring gull is the main candidate here (assuming it isn't western gull, that is, not even sure how you'd rule that out here).

Anyway, as soon as lou gets here we should know what it is

 

[rwblackbird57]

It isn't as delicate looking as I'd expect from Thayer's, particularly with that bill, so I'd think (American) herring gull is the main candidate here (assuming it isn't western gull, that is, not even sure how you'd rule that out here).

Anyway, as soon as lou gets here we should know what it is

I've started leaning towards Herring Gull as well, and pretty certain this isn't a Western. Don't have enough experience with Thayer's to come to a solid conclusion though.

 

[Bryon Wright]

Hi, rwblackbirds, Silverwolf,
Glad you brought this gull back up again. The bird looks very healthy enough but it seems to have a deformity half-way along the bill plus some sort of tracheal problem? Can you make this abnormality out? The tertial pattern seems so wonderfully exotic for any of the herring gull complex. Juv. LBBG, dark most of the way, then terminating in a regular herring gull, pattern. Would love to hear further about this gull from a US. based expert. Gave up altogether on California Gulls and California Girls in 1985, apart from the odd relapse.

 

[Tiraya]

Hi Bryon,

I see the bill issues. Don't know what causes it.

The ''American'' herring gulls are of course a bit different to the European ones, often showing darker and strongly marked immatures.

 

[rwblackbird57]

Hi, rwblackbirds, Silverwolf,
Glad you brought this gull back up again. The bird looks very healthy enough but it seems to have a deformity half-way along the bill plus some sort of tracheal problem? Can you make this abnormality out? The tertial pattern seems so wonderfully exotic for any of the herring gull complex. Juv. LBBG, dark most of the way, then terminating in a regular herring gull, pattern. Would love to hear further about this gull from a US. based expert. Gave up altogether on California Gulls and California Girls in 1985, apart from the odd relapse.

Yes, noticed the deformity too. It was pretty visible in the field. Don't know what's causing it either, but the gull seemed perfectly fine.