Herring vs. Ring-Billed

[cljones16]

Photo taken Feb 21 on the Massachusetts shore. I need some help distinguishing between sub-adult Ring-billed or Herring. Thanks.

[Hasan]

This is a worn 1st cycle Herring. Ring-billed is never this smoothly brown overall, instead having sharp streaking. Also, notice the bill is starting to turn pinkish at the base, and the lack of contrasty black on the mantle ruling out Lesser Black-backed. 

[Charlie Spencer]

Also notice the pink legs.

[Tony Leukering]

6 hours ago, Hasan said:

This is a worn 1st cycle Herring. Ring-billed is never this smoothly brown overall, instead having sharp streaking. Also, notice the bill is starting to turn pinkish at the base, and the lack of contrasty black on the mantle ruling out Lesser Black-backed. 

Agreed. First-cycle Ring-billed Gulls are just never this brown after their fall molt, having decidedly whitish underparts. They also have a strongly and sharply demarcated two-toned bill (pink and black).

47 minutes ago, Charlie Spencer said:

Also notice the pink legs.

First-cycle Ringers have pink legs.

[Charlie Spencer]

1 hour ago, Tony Leukering said:

Agreed. First-cycle Ring-billed Gulls are just never this brown after their fall molt, having decidedly whitish underparts. They also have a strongly and sharply demarcated two-toned bill (pink and black).

First-cycle Ringers have pink legs.

Never mind.  

Edited March 14, 2021 by Charlie Spencer

[floraphile]

1 hour ago, Charlie Spencer said:

Never mind.  

I didn't realize that, either.  ?