American Herring Gull (smithsonianus)

(last update: October 30, 2015)

Coordinators:
Amar Ayyash (US)
Bruce Mactavish (Canada)
Dave Brown (Canada)
Mars Muusse (Netherlands)

American Herring Gull (smithsonianus) adult, June 01 2014,  east Chicago - Lake Michigan, Indiana. Picture: Amar Ayyash.

Yellow-orange orbital ring, red only on lower mandible. Most Great Lakes Herrings show a single white mirror on the outermost primary P10. Some individuals, like this bird, show a smaller mirror on P9 that doesn't usually cross to the outerweb. Note P1-P2 already renewed and more than half way grown by 01 June. Small black subterminal mark on outer web of P4 recorded in about 1/3 of Great Lakes Herrings.