American Herring Gull (smithsonianus)

(last update: October 30, 2015)

American Herring Gull (smithsonianus) U73 3rd cycle (3CY), October 29 2016, Queens NYC, USA. Picture: Andrew Baksh.

Two American Herring Gulls banded green alphanumeric R71 and U73. Andrew's Flickr photo's.

U73 was banded on Appledore Island in Maine on July 16, 2014 as a chick not yet flying, nest 14H406 on the track from Kiggins to Bartels. 
R71 was banded on Appledore Island in Maine on July 18, 2012. R71 was the ‘B’ chick, not yet flying, of monitored nest 12H212 at Norwegian Cove. The hatch date was June 13, 2012.

U73 shows many immature features (brown in coverts and tertials, much black on the bill), combined with white-tipped, blackish outer primaries.
R71 is now 5th cycle and adult-like in most respects. The head streaking still appears rather blotchy and extensive, which may be a last indication this is a "younger adult".