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 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 (smithsonianus) J01 1st cycle, August 14 2014 & May 22 2015, Appledore Island & Delaware Bay. Picture: Lauren Kras & Emily Weiser.

See Lauren's Flickr photostream. And aslo see website: The Gulls Of Appledore.

Green J01 banded in 2014 in this colony.

below: American Herring Gull (smithsonianus) J01 1st cycle (1CY), August 14 2014, Appledore Island, NH. Picture: Lauren Kras.

Completely juvenile plumage. Very pale bird overall. Still in fresh plumage indicated by the beige tones on the feathers. These parts will soon bleach to white leaving a contrasting patterned bird, unlike classic 1st cycle smith's.

below: American Herring Gull (smithsonianus) J01 1st cycle (2CY), May 22 2015, DuPont Nature Center, Delaware Bay. Picture: Emily Weiser.

Emily, who is studying waders, found this banded bird in May along the shores of Delaware Bay. The complete moult may commence any moment now, and the juvenile wing-coverts are very abraded, completely worn and bleached white. It is easy to tell which feather tracts were included in the post-juvenile moult (first pre-basic moult): there is a greyish scapular saddle and grey feathers on the flanks and belly.