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) 1st cycle (2CY), February 21 2015, Brownsville landfill, TX. Picture: Martin Reid.

Interesting bird in showing all dark tertials and many replaced wing-coverts. Head-shape somewhat reminiscent of Lesser Black-backed Gull but pattern on 2nd gen scaps and pattern on tail and upper & undertail coverts clearly fit Herring Gull. Note the overall brown texture.

Occasionally Herring Gull may moult some wing-coverts in 1st pre-basic moult, but this bird is exceptional in the extent of this moult.