Gull IDs

[dizzy]

Here is a series of gull shots taken at Tommy Thompson Park yesterday. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Kumlien's Gull

Iceland Gull

California Gull

Thayer's Gull (the one in the center in the front that doesn't have it's head tucked away)
Iceland Gull (the white gull in the center at the back)


Thank you very much.

[Kris Ito]

I will be anxiously awaiting the opinion of others on your possible California Gull!! This would be an extremely exciting find. I don't see anything else with those bill markings but the eye colour should be dark (maybe that can vary?). You might just want to email Ron directly with this one.
As for the others, I think the last gull is a young Glaucous Gull (note the large size and mostly white colour). I think you're right about the Thayer's in the last pic too but I'm not the best person to ask. That first pic might even be a Thayer's too.

[Henrique Pacheco]

1. Kumliens Iceland. Markings too restricted to wingtips and not dark enough for thayers.
2. Kumliens Iceland
3. Adult Herring Gull. Pale eye, yellow gape, and stocky build rule out California.
4. Which one is the possible thayers? Edit: my mistake. Looks like a dwarf Herring gull. I say dwarf herring gull because it looks slightly smaller in the photo which might have something to do with the individual. The head shape does look interesting but I think it's just due to the angle of which the bird is looking. The head looks too stocky.

Edit #2: I've put the reasons that lead me to each of the bird's ID above.

[dizzy]

Hi Kris/Henrique, thank you very much for your explanations and confirmations. My mistake on IDing the third bird, I forgot to check the eye color.

[gary yankech]

You took down the pics too fast! It would have been nice to see them, I'm still learning gulls myself.

[dizzy]

Sorry Gary. I reposted the pictures.