pdx_bird Posted August 18, 2019 Share Posted August 18, 2019 With a bunch of Heermann's gulls, this tan-colored gull stood out. My guess is young Iceland Gull (Thayer's), pink legs, checkered patterned coverts, tan-colored wing-tips. Does that seem right? Seen in Santa Cruz, CA, Aug 12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted August 19, 2019 Share Posted August 19, 2019 Bump! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phalarope713 Posted August 24, 2019 Share Posted August 24, 2019 Very interesting bird. I suspect it might be an aberrant juvenile Heerman's. However, even if this bird was indeed a young Heerman's with unusually warm-colored plumage, I have never heard of one with pink legs. I did consider the possibility of a rare vagrant, and the bird appears similar to some juvenile Audouin's Gulls although some characteristics do not align. Any gull experts out there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bird-Boys Posted August 24, 2019 Share Posted August 24, 2019 Not an expert, but I can say it's definitely not a Heerman's Gull or Andouin's gull (Which would be Extremely Rare!). Definitely an interesting (probably rare) gull. Good Luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackburnian Posted August 25, 2019 Share Posted August 25, 2019 My first thought was a Heerman's Gull with some abnormalities, but I would also love to hear other opinions on this bird. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bird-Boys Posted August 25, 2019 Share Posted August 25, 2019 (edited) that would be a pretty abnormal heermann's gull! I think you might be correct with Iceland gull. Edited August 25, 2019 by Bird-Boys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Landon Posted August 26, 2019 Share Posted August 26, 2019 This is a first year Glaucous-Winged . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Landon Posted August 27, 2019 Share Posted August 27, 2019 Bump Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phalarope713 Posted August 28, 2019 Share Posted August 28, 2019 On 8/25/2019 at 6:16 PM, John Landon said: This is a first year Glaucous-Winged . Glaucous-winged Gull would be significantly larger than Heerman's with a heftier bill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Landon Posted August 28, 2019 Share Posted August 28, 2019 I agree a full grown adult will be significantly larger than this first year bird. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phalarope713 Posted August 28, 2019 Share Posted August 28, 2019 In my opinion, even a juvenile GWGU would be significantly larger than Heerman's. There is a juvenile Western Gull (roughly the same size as a typical GWGU) in the background of one of the pictures and it dwarfs the surrounding Heerman's and the bird in debate. Also, a pure GWGU would have pale rather than dark primaries. I think it is best to leave this bird as unidentified at this point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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