Herrings. They never bore. Here's a 2nd cycle from Michigan City, Indiana - 02 November 2014:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsemCEPNSR7wbC3AlderaSSoj-fxOMzEEI2JdnCEBojsLgk5r5w351lp8BPdKKoEZy23S7IoGpLs9QL2NFb0qqAU7lEAi8c7m_pTuKHMLEYqaelMWq8m6n0N3_2wS2klEV8KA7aG9xBE-_/s1600/DSC_7705.JPG) |
Although the bill is slightly open here, the "feel" was very Glaucous-like. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4_1MGLNsDWM2ReQsPim-fFrtviXaZeYEfdm6em474qBdUpKap9097DG0R8MHhoIRlzDSufY66AifkJ1cegwzK51w5NaQ52cmPMDid7B2CE_mQ9sN5OoBTJhv7XO1VmdHaNHAlHQEDVSQ9/s1600/interesting+herg+spread+wing+3.jpg) |
The underwing linings have the brown and white dotting that I associate with Great Black-backed. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXjigGVagU3SWjMhZziW7su5lpD7GcHFcW3PgQJA5nx9EKs1iVXOJ8Xo0BSAzujVTkiVQ4hQ7Ix8IuPvfVSI7qu522j2gVrwMeeGpS-qyVUfz7bMk9YXYlP5hMZIEyzP0EFMhUExLM9jAi/s1600/interesting+herg+spread+wign+4.jpg) |
The very fine stippling on the upperwing coverts is noteworthy. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgys8LqTav3-tBo1qhTGKR7XUOHoA2aPzi0FocwT1dOVmLJMM5CbV028WtY3J5HonDU4bropvJiGaT7fY1LBwwUFBJezpnkMiLhFrKexPggbzvzO7RqiHHtahF0T1D0tX8-Z1bjRr-Tsjfb/s1600/interesting+herg+spread+wing+2.jpg) |
Heavy, barrel-shaped body much like a Great Black-backed or Glaucous. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrRv_hfaDYjDEnBtLr52AvJR6E3WZB7Rm4Vo1ENaiKYOadGb7F8lYpozBgWe_nJushG5tgpH_lqNvFrWKQ7aHGVm1JHjfj6Sz7CPB35IIY_kphr5t8EH6MCGj0y58TiyoxLzTUo5PBRl_G/s1600/DSC_7695.JPG) |
When averaging all of the photos, this photo is closest to what the upperparts looked like in the field. |
I've observed pale Herrings similar to this one in California but late into the winter season after, presumably, bleaching had set in - the upperparts to those birds show very little pattern to the upperwing coverts (unlike the Michigan City bird).
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxPbMqJl3vO-x9YhaUyjgmAKsKlXl6RAbfKfQryNEsHw7zhAiPkdYyPz6bfZKyWpn7-LftEtXGzRdkoJvp5uKH6XwT50cSx5GkJlt7JKStgOa6mJRyhultfkB56BB4iylucd1RjXNTnV9t/s1600/Nelson's+1.jpg) |
Herring Gull (2nd cycle). Half Moon Bay, CA. 18 Jan 2014. There's little doubt that the upperparts are bleached. |
Here's the open wing of the bird above:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkzTyxuSGC96GmtZdZaA4oqvO4zS2slPwmKREHCD9Jrn_Z5QT9gP-8RC4N1V4f2Zdd20ufLVcZG7RjoZKOLE003vzS2E0RLv0VrXJpFvZAnJ05VSB4lgUTb9gb_SA69lU9MmGrIrsOKKKR/s1600/Nelsons+4.jpg) |
P6-P8 show tear-drop like pale inner webs (left wing). The very plain, white, greater coverts are bleahced. |
Now the open wing of the Michigan City bird:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzOw13tTp4K0GEK__7Si4-0cbZxhoPVKm3blG2oDzjTkfBDmBu1kerP-Ct3H5907k_bL9B46wwGL3c6AvzbwA0adKKQPkMBZpsoawF9diZHOsNHjhf8kUILYXB2QrA6LGLU_Mwr8CvmIwc/s1600/DSC_7783.JPG) |
The greater covets show a pattern and have not bleached or faded. Interestingly, this bird too shows pale tear-drops at the subterminal portions of the innerwebs to the outer primaries. |
Assuming the 2nd prebasic was just recently completed, I have to rule out bleaching as an explanation for the pale upperparts. It could very well be a slight melanin deficiency, or outside influence - perhaps Great Black-backed or Glaucous genes somewhere in its ancestry (the larger barrel-shaped body and large bill were striking).
Or, is this plumage aspect completely within the range of variation for Smithsonianus?