Outdoor Ontario

Request for Information => Bird ID => Topic started by: Canoncan on February 20, 2010, 06:01:43 PM

Title: Lesser Black Backed or Kelp
Post by: Canoncan on February 20, 2010, 06:01:43 PM

My first thought was lesser, but the head has zero streaking in Februrary has me stumped. Taken today in Burlington.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v303/canoncan/_MG_3907.jpg)

Title:
Post by: raypye on February 20, 2010, 09:50:13 PM

Kelp Gull is a South American Gull that is a rare visitor to North America. There are no Ontario records.
Your 2 choices are Great Black-backed Gull (common) and Lesser Black-backed Gull (uncommon).
Rayfield Pye

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Post by: thouc on February 20, 2010, 11:26:00 PM

No streaking and very large bill points to Great Black-backed Gull.

/Thomas

Title: Gull
Post by: Canoncan on February 21, 2010, 08:52:04 AM

If you look in the water at the back you can see the leg which shows yellow legs, I thought Greats had pink legs?

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Post by: Brian Bailey on February 21, 2010, 09:31:02 AM

It's hard to say for for sure when they're underwater, but I'd say the leg colour is consistent with a Great:  pale pink versus bright yellow for Lesser.

The bill also looks too big for a Lesser.

BB