American Herring Gull (smithsonianus)

(last update: October 30, 2015)

American Herring Gull (smithsonianus) adult, February 24 2008, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada. Picture: Bruce Mactavish.

Clean white primary coverts and absence of any vestiges of black point to full adult. Difficult bird from a W European point of view, with the sub-terminal black band on P10 broken. White innerweb on P10 lacking characteristic 90 degrees angle (rather pointed here). Short tongue on P10, hence medial band obvious broader than mirror on P10. Mirror on P9 confined to inner web. No bayonet patterns on P6-P8. Black on P9 not reaching to primary coverts and P5 with W-pattern are classic for smithsonianus.