Herring Gull??

mightymaiden · #1 (**permalink**) 12-02-2011, 07:30 PM

Is this a 1st winter herring gull??

Cheers

Martin

Tringa · #2 (**permalink**) 12-02-2011, 08:50 PM

Could easily be a Herring Gull, but from this angle I, honestly, don't have a clue.

Even in good light and the best view, immature gulls are not easy to identify, but a nice shot anyway.

Dave

aeshna5 · #3 (**permalink**) 13-02-2011, 05:34 AM

Not the best angle for a confident ID. This age Herring gull would show a pale window of inner primaries- but with the light I can't see whether this is present or not. 1st-year Herring Gulls often show a pale base to the bill whereas Lesser Blackback of a similar age usually have an all dark bill.

This bird would have been easier to ID in the field.

RoyW · #4 (**permalink**) 13-02-2011, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aeshna5

This bird would have been easier to ID in the field.

Yes, if you know the features that you are looking for most immature gulls aren't as difficult to identify as people think.

You do need the right angle though, which you don't have with this photo. I'm pretty certain that it is a 1st year Herring Gull, but if you have any other shots of the same bird it would probably help.