American Herring Gull (smithsonianus)

(last update: October 30, 2015)

American Herring Gull (smithsonianus) 1st cycle (2CY) X37 / 2V December 21 2012, Circle Beach, Madison, CT. Picture: Keith Mueller.

As part of a larger study, Alex and his colleages put wing tags on 37 adult Herring Gulls on Gull Island in the Witless Bay Seabird Ecological Reserve off Newfoundland’s Avalon Peninsula.  The tags are beige with black codes like “X07" or "X29". The birds were also fitted with the black-on-orange colour bands that have been used in Newfoundland for many years.  We know from other band returns that Newfoundland’s breeding Herring Gulls range from southern Labrador to the Carolinas. Any resights can be reported to the Bird Banding Office/Bird Banding Lab (www.reportband.gov), or directly to me at alex.bond@usask.ca.

Bi-coloured bill. Upper scaps replaced, but lower scaps still juvenile as could be expected in birds from northern origin. Flight feathers, coverts and tertials still juvenile.