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Western Gull

Larus occidentalis

1 Species ID Suggestions

Ava T-B
Ava T-B 12 years ago
Western Gull
Larus occidentalis Western Gull


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2 Comments

Darwin26
Darwin26 12 years ago

Good call Ava, this appears to be of the variety north of Monterey, CA with a duller back and darker eye even at this 3rd of 4 phases. National Geographic Birds 5th ed pg 210

Ava T-B
Ava T-B 12 years ago

Gulls are tough to identify sometimes because for their first few years they go through color stages that don't look like the adult. This one is in about its 3rd year; it has a black bill-tip while as an adult it will have just a red spot towards the tip of its lower bill (which you can just barely see in this picture). Also, as an adult, those browner feathers will become slate grey like the ones on its back.
If you have Sibley, see page 223.

amymcgonagle
Spotted by
amymcgonagle

SF, California, USA

Spotted on May 28, 2011
Submitted on Aug 8, 2011

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