American Herring Gull (smithsonianus)

(last update: October 30, 2015)

Herring Gull (argentatus) 2nd cycle (2CY) December 04 & 18 2010, Peterhead, Scotland. Picture: Chris Gibbins.

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Interesting bird, a second winter Herring Gull with a tail pattern extremely like an American Herring Gull L. smithsonianus. The rump and ventral barring however were not as one would ideally like on a smithsonianus (i.e. not dense enough for a bird on this side of the Atlantic); also, the feather patterns on the wing coverts and scapulars were not like the most distinctive (identifiable) type of smithsonianus and the body plumage, though nice and dark, was too blotchy. Nonetheless, an interesting bird.

above: 04 December.
below: 18 December. Lovely dark greater coverts and solidly brown tertials. BUT Chris still cant get himself too exited - the head and upper breast are much more streaked and blotched, respectively, than can be tolerated. Also, one would like plainer median coverts and scapulars. Despite being very dark, with a number of good looking features, it is not quite the full smithsonianus package. It is very dark but not really a significant step apart from other birds that have been seen in NE Scotland. Would be great to know where such birds are from (Iceland?).

Tail wholly dark except for a few small white spots on the outer 2 tail feathers. In my opinion this tail pattern is easily within the range of that seen in second winter smithsonianus (though of course this does not mean it is one).

Note the undertail covert barring - black bars wider than white base. Also the underwing coverts are a rather uniform chocolate brown, as is the body.

Heavily barred upper tail coverts visible here, mirroring the undertail coverts.