Thayer's Gull (thayeri)

(last update: January 22, 2013)

Thayer's Gull adult, mid-January 2014, central California, US. Picture: Amar Ayyash.

Visit: Amar's blog for many more images!

Present flock of about >600 birds (170 1st cycles, 100 2nd cycles, 40 3rd cycles, 350 adults).

Purple orbital ring. Red gonys spot on lower mandible continues on upper mandible; some black on lower mandible. Pinkish base of bill.

Speckling: 75-99% (overall brown iris).

Primaries greyish-black. Thayeri pattern on P10 (see underside).

Very bulky bird, strong neck and high-placed eye in this image all might indicate male?