Gulls

[Jon]

Saw these gulls at Sardis Park today.

This one has a hefty bill, a black/dark tail, and gray wing-tips. I think this may be a Western x Glaucous-winged 3rd year:


gull sp. at Sardis Park by Jonathan Pap



gull sp. at Sardis Park by Jonathan Pap



I'm fairly certain this is a 1st year Iceland (Thayer's)


Iceland Gull (Thayer's) at Sardis Park by Jonathan Pap



This I'm unsure of. Almost Ring-billed, but the dark eye isn't good for that, and the head is quite dirty.


gull sp. at Sardis Park by Jonathan Pap



gull sp. at Sardis Park by Jonathan Pap

[Chris]

Hey Jon, the second one I would say Iceland as well. Not sure about the other two. The last one could be an Iceland's Gull?

[paulos]

Hi Jon, I think Gull #1 is within the range of the "Olympic Gull" hybrid (3rd year?).

I'm torn on the 4th Gull. Was the mantle as dark as it looks in the photo?

[Jon]

Thanks for the input Chris and Paul!

Paul, the mantle was not noticeably darker than the majority of the (Glaucous-winged / hybrid) gulls.

I've added 2 more photos, but I doubt they add much...


gull sp. at Sardis Park by Jonathan Pap


gull sp. at Sardis Park by Jonathan Pap

[paulos]

This one is a mystery I might keep working on.

The bill, shape and size suggests ring-billed (and the dark iris could work for a subadult). But several things don't add up: the darker mantle, more white on the tertials than a ring-billed, and pink legs. The size, head and bill shape don't work for a new full. This wing pattern doesn't work for Thayer's. A California Gull at this age would have yellowish legs. So....?

[Gord]

Paul, that one has a lot going for it for a California no doubt but the legs happily help. It's a hybrid. If a Cook's Inlet Hybrid of Herring x Glaucous-winged the back should be paler than that however the size is ok for one but small for the combo. Typical Olympic Hybrids (Western x Glaucous-winged) are big solid gulls which this bird is not. But I think that's what it is, just a really petite female?

[paulos]

That's great Gord. How possible is a California hybrid?