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 (1CY), October 02 2017, Wheatley Harbour, Ontario, Canada. Picture: Kevin McLaughlin.

Known here as "Great Lakes American Herring Gull (GLHG)" in preformative molt (juvenile to first winter), with some posterior juvenal scapulars retained. The incoming first winter scapulars have the more expected "anchors" and with a gray base colour to the feathers. This base colour varies and can be paler, up to white or off-white in many individuals. Also note the coverts and tertials having small white spots.