first winter Gl-W Gulls

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first winter Glaucous- winged Gull
	Fig 1) On most of these birds, note the nearly solid greater coverts and tertials and, of course, the folded primaries about the same color as the rest of the bird. The bill is typically large and described as "blob-ended", though some young birds have seemingly smaller bills. January, Santa Barbara, CA. Photo by Don DesJardin, copyright 1998.

Fig 2) Note also the fairly muddy scapulars and back and the irregular, not checkered, pattern on the lesser and median coverts. Like Western and Yellow-footed, Glaucous-winged Gulls usually stand with some of the secondaries exposed, as in this bird. Thayer's and other gulls rarely show this, though it is simply a function of posture and is thus variable. Photo by Don DesJardin, copyright 1998.


Fig 4 and 5) This one has the classic large blob-ended bill that is often spoken of. The spread wing and tail shot illustrates the rather uniform look. Note that the outer webs of the primaries are darker than the inner ones, as in Thayer's, but the contrast is minimal. Note also the solid tail. Thayer's, Herring, Glaucous, Iceland (and every large gull besides Western and Yellow-footed) will show at least some pale barring at the base of the outer retrices. Photo by Don DesJardin, copyright 1998.


Fig 6 and 7) These photos show the dark and pale extremes. The dark one may indicate hybridization with Western (especially note the very heavy bill). Then again, it may be within natural variability. Many birds look nearly white by spring, but this bird shows some can be quite pale to begin with. Fig 6: 22 Dec 1998. Bay Area, CA. Copyright 1999. Fig 7: 20 Jan 2000. Copyright 2000. Both photos taken in the Bay Area, CA by Mike Rogers.

Fig 8) This would have made a great quiz bird, no doubt fooling some into calling it a Thayer's because it is so neatly marked (but look at the classic Gl-W bill). Still in juvenile plumage in January, this remarkably neatly-marked bird shows off the juvenile scapular pattern of Gl-W, which differs from the more solid centers of Thayer's. Compare this bird with the two above, and you see the tremendous variability of Glaucous-winged Gulls. 20 Jan 2000. Bay Area, CA. Mike Rogers. Copyright 2000.