Gull Research Organisation

American Herring Gull (smithsonianus) (last update: October 30, 2015)
Coordinators: Amar Ayyash (US) Bruce Mactavish (Canada) Dave Brown (Canada) Mars Muusse (Netherlands) smith rings smith PDF's smith 1cy August smith 1cy September smith 1cy October smith 1cy November smith 1cy December smith 2cy January smith 2cy February smith 2cy March smith 2cy April smith 2cy May smith 2cy June smith 2cy July smith 2cy August smith 2cy September smith 2cy October smith 2cy November smith 2cy December smith 3cy January smith 3cy February smith 3cy March smith 3cy April smith 3cy May smith 3cy June smith 3cy July smith 3cy August smith 3cy September smith 3cy October smith 3cy November smith 3cy December smith sub-ad January smith sub-ad February smith sub-ad March smith sub-ad April smith sub-ad May smith sub-ad June smith sub-ad July smith sub-ad August smith sub-ad September smith sub-ad October smith sub-ad November smith sub-ad December smith ad January smith ad February smith ad March smith ad April smith ad May smith ad June smith ad July smith ad August smith ad September smith ad October smith ad November smith ad December	American Herring Gull 2nd cycle (3cy) January *Similar looking species* From an American point of view, it may be nice to compare local smithsonianus with argentatus from Europe and vegae from Asia. Vega Gull in 2nd cycle are illustrated HERE. Below you'll find some example European argentatus and argenteus birds. *European Herring Gull argentatus* 2nd cycle birds** above: European Herring Gull argentatus argenteus SWAS 2nd cycle (2CY), December 02 2012, Calais, France. Picture: Jean-Michel Sauvage. From Belgium. Note 2nd gen primaries and moulted inner greater coverts and upper tertials. In general, bird much resembling first winter plumage. below: European Herring Gull argentatus argentatus KV48 2nd cycle (3CY), February 26 2008, Boulogne, France. Picture J.M. Sauvage. From N Russia (67.05N). Note compact body and snouty head. above: European Herring Gull argentatus 2nd cycle (3CY), January 23 2013, Katwijk, the Netherlands. Picture: Mars Muusse. Classic 2nd gen flight feathers. Black in tail limited to tail band and only proximal lining on central feathers. Very pale on rump, lacking bold dark pattern, and often already grey scapular 'saddle' in British argenteus. below: European Herring Gull argentatus argenteus PJAD 2nd cycle (3CY), February 03 2012, Vlissingen, the Netherlands. Picture: Theo Muusse. From Belgium. Note 2nd gen primaries. Limited black in outer rectrices and wide-spaced barring on rump. above: European Herring Gull argentatus 2nd cycle (3CY), February 07 2013, Katwijk, the Netherlands. Picture: Mars Muusse. Clear tail band and white, almost unspotted rump. Near complete grey scapular 'saddle' common in British argenteus. below: *European Herring Gull argentatus* March 05 2014, Katwijk, the Netherlands. Picture: Mars Muusse. Tail band and pale rump. Near complete grey scapular 'saddle'.**	East coast
		*American Herring Gull (smithsonianus) L23 January 2012 & 2013, Bourne & Plymouth, Massachusetts. Picture: Steve Arena.*
		*American Herring Gull (smithsonianus) Y30 2nd cycle (3CY), January 02 2015, Salisbury beach, MA. Picture: Dave Adrien.*
		*American Herring Gull (smithsonianus) 56C 2nd cycle (3CY), January 11 2016, Hampton, NH. Picture: Robbie & Colleen Prieto.*
		*American Herring Gull (smithsonianus) 34F 1st-2nd cycle (2CY-3CY), March - April 2016 & January - May 2017, Seaside Park, Bridgeport, CT.*
		South coast
		*American Herring Gull (smithsonianus) 3cy, January 04 2009, Coast Gulf - Texas, USA.*
		Great Lakes
		*American Herring Gull (smithsonianus) 2nd cycle (3CY) 1106-13983 January 01 2015, Lake County, IL. Picture: Amar Ayyash.*
		*American Herring Gull (smithsonianus) 3cy (2nd cycle), January 21 2012, Chicago IL, USA. Picture: Amar Ayyash.*