PA Gulls

[KnotLisa]

Going to try to learn a bit more about gulls. I suspect there's Ring-billed, Herring, and Lesser black-backed in here? Near Easton, PA on the Delaware River yesterday, 11/26. ID tips appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Aidan B]

Hope this helps with the ID tips. Gulls are hard!

1. From left to right, Herring (Pink legs, very pale overall, bill half pink half black), Ring-billed (yellow legs, Ring around bill), Lesser Black-backed (dark mantle, pale eye, yellow legs, bright red spot on bill, mirrors on the primaries), Ring-billed (mirrors on the primaries, yellowish legs, bill with ring around it), Herring/Lesser Black-backed (pink legs, darker breast)

2. Lesser Black-backed (Pale eye, dark mantle, all dark bill, pale, contrasty head, primaries extending far beyond tail, checkered pattern on the coverts)

3. Ring-billed (dark eye, pink bill with dark tip, scapulars with definitive cycle feathers on a two year old gull. 

4. All Ring-billed (second cycle same as above, yellow bill with ring, large mirrors on the primaries, pale eye)

5. Lesser Black-backed (all dark bill, black and white pattern all over the bird, dark under wing coverts

Edited November 27, 2022 by Aidan B

[KnotLisa]

Thank you, Aidan B! Your ID tips are exactly the kind of things I'm looking for. I'm going to write some of your tips in my field guides and probably get a book strictly on gulls. Limited opportunities here in SE PA, but the winter should be better than summer at least. Thanks again!