May 2015 Quiz

There were lots of answers submitted this month, ranging from Herring Gull to Iceland Gull. First things first, age: this is a pretty obvious 1st cycle with nearly complete juvenile plumes.

The pale edging to the primaries, as well as the color of the primaries (brown not blackish) rules out Herring Gull. Although this bird superficially resembles a Thayer's Gull, the drooping secondary skirt, heavier bill and higher eye placement push me towards a Glaucous-winged Gull. The wing coverts on this species are a bit more solidly filled than most similar-aged Thayer's. The scaps and overall plumage aspect also have a muddier look when compared to Thayer's. Of course if there were other species around to compare it to, one would use size and structure to help clue them in.

This Glaucous-winged Gull was photographed in the Seattle, Washington area in January. Some birds, like this individual, take on a very chocolaty plumage, making it appear similar to a Glaucous-winged x Western hybrid (so-called Puget Sound or Olympic Gull). Those birds tend to have more beady eyes, higher eye placement and more bulbous-tipped bills.

Monthly Notables May 2015

May 2015

• Slaty-backed Gull (adult). Wayne County, Michigan.02 May 2015.
• Michigan state has earned the "Slaty-backed Crown" of the interior. I can't think of any other state outside of California and Alaska where this species has been recorded with such frequency in the last couple of years.
• Franklin's Gulls (4 adults). Hawaii County, Hawaii. 03 May 2015.
• Laughing Gull (adult). San Mateo County, California. 04 May 2015.
• Thayer's Gull (1st cycle). Valley County, Montana. 04 May 2015.
• Slaty-backed Gull (adult - continuing). Pierce County, Washington. 06 May 2015.
• California Gull (2nd cycle). Point Pelee, Ontario. 12 May 2015.
• Great Black-backed Gulls (7). Lake County, Indiana. 17 May 2015.
• May high count for Indiana.
• Kelp Gull (adult type). San Mateo County, California. 20 May 2015.
• First state record. Presumably, this same individual was relocated on the Farallon Islands on 24 May 2015.
• Laughing x Ring-billed Hybrid (adults - 2). Cook County, Illinois. 22, 24 May 2015.
• Seen two days apart - photos confirm two different individuals. 
• Franklin's Gull (adult). Kings County, New York. 24 May 2015.
• Perhaps the most intriguing highlight this month is a video by Issac Grant that documents this adult Franklin's Gull mounting, and copulating with, an adult Laughing Gull.
• Black-headed Gull (1st cycle). Monroe County, Michigan. 29 May 2015.
• Laughing Gull (2 adult types). Manitowoc, Wisconsin. 31 May 2015.

April 2015 Quiz

It's known that 1st cycle gulls typically show pointed primary tips, while older gulls display more rounded tips to the primaries. Looking at this bird's primaries, it seems they are rounded, but overall the plumage appears to be that of a 1st cycle gull. The caveat here is that the apparent shape of the primary tips can change with the bird's posture, behavior, and even the angle at which we observe these feathers. This is indeed a first cycle gull, but what species?

Proportionally, the body-to-head and body-to-tail size seem to rule out a large species (such as Herring, etc.). The barred tail, brown and white wing coverts, and mostly white neck narrow this down to Ring-billed Gull or Mew Gull. This next photo should help:

Notice how the tips to the primaries appear more pointy now. But much more importantly, notice the pale edging surrounding the primary tips - a very "Mew-like" feature. This neat, white-winger-like edging is rarely as extensive in Ring-billed (see a typical 1st cycle Ring-billed example here). Additionally, the petite bill, domed head, smudgy hind-neck markings, and relatively dark gray 2nd generation scapulars all add up to a 1st cycle Mew Gull. There are several other field marks that help eliminate Ring-billed, but the description I've provided here should suffice. This Mew Gull was photographed in Seattle, Washington in January 2010.

Monthly Notables April 2015

April 2015

• Slaty-backed Gull (adult). Manitowoc, Wisconsin. 04 April 2015.
• This individual was seen on and off for over a month but could not be identified to species until 04 April when the original finder observed it closer to shore.
• Western Gull (1st cycle). Sierra County, New Mexico. 09 April 2015.
• Mew Gull (adult). Southport, Connecticut. 10 April 2015.
• Another presumed Kamchatka Gull (the 4th one on the Atlantic Coast in 6 months). North America's default East Coast subspecies has always been nominate canus. The recent rash of L.c. kamtschatschensis is curious, to say the least. Perhaps it's a good time to reassess historic records where photos and/or specimens are available.
• Slaty-backed Gull (continuing adult). Tacoma, Washington. Present all of April 2015.
• Little Gull (1st cycle). Sullivan County, Indiana. 12 April 2015.
• Now here for at least 23 consecutive weeks!
• Mew Gull (adult). Milford, Connecticut. 16 April 2015. 
• Thayer's Gull (1st cycle). West Haven, Connecticut. 19 April 2015.
• Iceland Gull (adult). Morgan County, Colorado. 20 April 2015.
• Little Gull (adult). St. John's, Newfoundland. 22 April 2015.
• Little Gull (adult). Waukegan, Illinois, 25 April 2015.
• A single adult was viewed flying north on Lake Michigan with a relatively big flight of Bonaparte's (822). This number of Bonaparte's is unusual on the Illinois lakefront at any time of year.
• Little Gull (158). Oshawa, Ontario. 26 April 2015.
• A site high count at the famous Oshawa Second Marsh. All birds present were adults with just a single first cycle bird.