Thayer's Gull (thayeri)

(last update: January 22, 2013)

Nelson's Gull hyperboreus x smithsonianus 1st cycle (2CY), March 16 2008, Yaquina Bay, OR. Picture: Birdmeister.

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The nicely bicolored bill points to Glaucous (and away from Glaucous x Glaucous-winged) and the primaries are relatively dark grayish, yet maybe not brown enough for Herring. Some similarity to Thayer's Gull, but HYBRID GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL X AMERICAN HERRING GULL larger overall with longer and stouter bill, but plumage can overlap with Thayer’s. Some presumed hybrids resemble Thayer’s closely and may be difficult to identify without known species for size and structure comparison, but most hybrids are bulkier with larger bills.